OKINAWAN
OPISTHOBRANCH OF THE WEEK
Odontoglaja guamensis Rudman, 1978 (9mm)
Opisthobranch of the Week Data
Taxonomy:
- Order: CEPHALASPIDEA
- Family: Aglajidae
Frequency on Okinawa:
Collection Data:
- Individual Collection No: RFB #3020-B
- Location: Seragaki (26o 30.4'N, 127o 52.6'E) [Popeye's,
Odo Village ]
- Date: 26 June, 1992 [30 Jan 93, 5 Mar 93]
- Depth: 10ft (3.0m) [5ft, 10ft, 15ft]
- Water temperature at collection depth: Not recorded
- Size: Notum 9mm [9mm notum, 10mm notum, TL 7mm]
- Specimen deposited: California Academy of Sciences
[brackets indicate range for all Okinawa-collected specimens of the species]
Species Account:
Odontoglaja guamensis is considered to be rare on Okinawa as I have seen and collected a total of only three individuals over a period of many years. Two of
the specimens (Seragaki) were collected from the same site, i.e., a small coral rubble covered depression amid a mixed live/dead stony coral reef. The animals were found while turning coral rubble.
Due to the small size of these attractive little cephalaspids, they are unfortunately seldom seen by the casual marine observer.
Copyright © 1999 Robert F. Bolland
Digitally manipulated photo
