OKINAWAN
OPISTHOBRANCH OF THE WEEK
Tambja sagamiana (Baba, 1955) size not recorded
Opisthobranch of the Week Data
Taxonomy:
- Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
- Suborder: Doridina
- Family: Polyceridae
Frequency on Okinawa:
Collection Data:
- Individual Collection No: No collection no., photo only
- Location: Horseshoe Cliffs, Okinawa (26o30.0'N, 127o50.9'E) [Kadena Runway Lights, Horseshoe Cliffs, Seragaki]
- Date: 19 January, 1991 [21 Mar '87, 23 Dec '91, 28 Feb '92, 22 Dec '96]
- Depth: 160ft (49m) [40ft, 130ft, 130ft, 140ft]
- Water temperature at collection depth: Not recorded
- Size: TL Size not recorded [one collected indiv. not measured, 54mm, 68mm, 80mm]
- Specimen deposited: Photo only, without specimen (different individuals of the
species deposited at Cal Acad Sci)
[brackets indicate range for all Okinawa-collected specimens of the species]
Species Account:
Tambja sagamiana is considered to be uncommon on Okinawa; I've collected only four individuals but I've seen and photographed many others. Populations of this animal would appear to be quite ephemeral; in some years they are frequently seen between
approximately 90m and 55m, in other years they are not seen at any depth.
This spectacular, moderately large-sized polycerid is immediately identified by its bright orange or yellow pustules covering the mantle surface. The featured uncollected animal was photographed in a area of mixed sand and coral rubble at the fore reef area of a live stony coral reef. There were fairly large numbers of aborescent bryozoan colonies present in the surrounding area; other species of Tambja are known to feed on bryozoans, perhaps these do as well.
Copyright © 1999 Robert F. Bolland
Digitally manipulated photo
