OKINAWAN
OPISTHOBRANCH OF THE WEEK

Polycera fujitai Baba, 1937 (9mm)
Photo by Atsushi Ono

Opisthobranch of the Week Data

Taxonomy:

Frequency on Okinawa: Collection Data:
[brackets indicate range for all Okinawa-collected specimens of the species]

Species Account:

        The above featured little polycerid, Polycera fujitai, was photographed and collected by Atsushi Ono from the waters of Zamami Island in the Kerama Islands, one of a series of islands in the Kerama Islands Group, which are located 30 ~ 40 kilometers west of the Okinawa Capitol, Naha. This featured animal was collected by Atsushi during May of 2001. Ono (pers. comm.) reports seeing only the above individual and of course considers it to be very rare.

        P. fujitai is one of four described Polycera species known from Okinawan waters; the four species are:

  • P. fujitai - the above featured animal
  • P. abei
  • P. japonica
  • P. risbeci

    •         In addition to Atsushi's image above, there are photos of Polycera fujitai posted on-line at:

    Page Date: 16 Aug '04
    Page Modification Date: 16 Aug '04
    Digitally manipulated photo (image has been horizontally flipped)
    Copyright © 2004 Robert F. Bolland