OKINAWAN
OPISTHOBRANCH OF THE WEEK
Tambja limaciformis (Eliot, 1908) 13mm
Opisthobranch of the Week Data
Taxonomy:
- Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
- Suborder: Doridina
- Family: Polyceridae
Frequency on Okinawa:
Collection Data:
- Individual Collection No: RFB #2543-C
- Location: Horseshoe Cliffs (26o30.0'N, 127o50.9'E)
- Date: 15 May, 1991 [May, '91(2); May ~ Jun, '92(3); Apr ~ May, '93(2); May ~ Jul, '94(2)]
- Depth: 10ft (3m) [5 ~ 10ft]
- Water temperature at collection depth: Not recorded
- Size: TL 13mm [8mm ~ 14mm]
- Specimen deposited: California Academy of Sciences
[brackets indicate range for all Okinawa-collected specimens of the species]
Species Account:
Tambja limaciformis is considered to be uncommon on Okinawa; I've seen this attractive little polycerid exclusively at a single site (Horseshoe Cliffs). I've found it in two primary areas, separated by perhaps 80m. I've always found it in a mixed
live/dead stony coral reef environment, frequently in close proximity with a brown alga, Acanthophora sp., situated 5 to 10m from the reef edge.
A total of nine individuals have been collected (May, 1991 through July, 1994); all specimens appear to be similar in appearance without appreciable variation in either color or pattern.
Copyright © 1999 Robert F. Bolland
Digitally manipulated photo
