OKINAWAN
OPISTHOBRANCH OF THE WEEK
Asteronotus cespitosus (Hasselt, 1824) 98mm
Opisthobranch of the Week Data
Taxonomy:
- Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
- Suborder: Doridina
- Family: Discodorididae
Frequency on Okinawa:
Collection Data:
- Individual Collection No: RFB #2898-B
- Location: Onna Flats, 1.5km WSW Onna Village, Okinawa (26o29.2'N, 127o50.4'E)
- Date: 22 December, 1991 [Only one individual has been collected]
- Depth: Intertidal [Only one individual has been collected]
- Water temperature at collection depth: Not recorded
- Size: TL 98mm [Only one individual has been collected]
- Specimen deposited: California Academy of Sciences
[brackets indicate range for all Okinawa-collected specimens of the species]
Species Account:
Asteronotus cespitosus is considered to be very rare on Okinawa as I have seen and collected only a solitary individual. The animal was collected between 02:00 & 03:00am during a negative spring tide(-27cm) "reef walk." It was found exposed to the air near a small pool lined with mixed sand/coral rubble.
Page Date: 08 Sep '97
Page Modification Date: 08 Sep '97
Digitally manipulated photo
Copyright © 1997 Robert F. Bolland
