OKINAWAN
OPISTHOBRANCH OF THE WEEK
Aeolidiella indica Bergh, 1888 (16mm)
Opisthobranch of the Week Data
Taxonomy:
- Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
- Suborder: Aeolidina
- Family: Aeolidiidae
Frequency on Okinawa:
Collection Data:
- Individual Collection No: RFB #2044-A (5 individuals)
- Location: Kyoda boat Basin, Imbu, 2.8 km E of Benseno-misaki, Okinawa (26o32.3'N, 127o57.6'E)
- Date: 19 February, 1989
- Depth: Intertidal
- Water temperature not recorded; air temperature approx. 68oF (20oC)
- Size: TL 16mm (5 individuals ranged from 11mm to 16mm)
- Specimen deposited: Unknown
[brackets indicate range for all Okinawa-collected specimens of the species]
Species Account:
Aeolidiella indica is considered to be very rare on
Okinawa as I have collected only five individuals; the five specimens were collected
simultaneous from the intertidal zone at the perimeter of a small commercial boat basin. The
area was composed of strewn rock rubble amid silty sand. The specimens were found beneath
two separate rocks as they were being overturned; the rocks were covered with a dense growth
of a leafy green alga (Ulva sp.). One of the rocks supported two individuals while
the other had three. Ova were seen in close proximity to both animal groups.
One of the synonyms of Aeolidiella indica is Aeolidiella
takanosimensis, which was described by Baba (1930).
Literature Cited:
- Baba, Kikutaro. 1930. Studies on Japanese nudibranchs (3). Venus 2(3): 117-125, pl. 4.
Copyright © 1999 Robert F. Bolland
Digitally manipulated photo
