Tambja capensis from South Africa

September 30, 2003
From: Charles Rowe


Now I have started the ball rolling with Chromodoris heatherae I have another nudi from Port Elizabeth [South Africa] to identify. This one was seen at 20 metres at a site called Avalanche which is a very good dive site. I spotted about 6-8 specimens and took about 4 photos and the best is shown below. I am unable to see it in the only book I have, Nudibranchs and Sea Snails by Helmut Hebelius and that is why I am contacting you. The shot of the eggs was taken near to the black nudis but I am not sure if they actually belong to them.
Charles Rowe

bumff@mweb.co.za

Rowe, C., 2003 (Sep 30) Tambja capensis from South Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11067

Dear Charles,
This is Tambja capensis. According to Terry Gosliner, who by chance visited Sydney for a few hours on Sunday, this species is found only in the temperate waters of the Cape Province. It feeds on arborescent bryozoans and I suspect the plant-like growth in the close-up photo alongside is its food.

I am happy to receive photos of opisthobranchs from South Africa as there are many gaps in our knowledge of the fauna of southern Africa. Even photos of animals you have identified are welcome as they help to give us a fuller picture of colour variation and distribution, and if you are lucky enough to photograph animals on their possible food organisms, or laying eggs, this can be a useful addition to the scant knowledge we have on their biology.

Concerning the egg ribbon photo. As you suspect, it is very difficult to be sure of the identify of egg ribbons unless your actually see them being deposited. I have left your photo in the message but the only way of knowing if it belongs to Tambja capensis is to regularly visit the Tambja population until you are lucky enough to find one laying. Terry says it is quite a common subtidal species. If you do find it laying a ribbon, it will be a valuable bit of information, as we don't know much about the egg ribbons of any species of Tambja. Can you give me a date for the photos please?
Best wishes
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Sep 30). Comment on Tambja capensis from South Africa by Charles Rowe. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11067

Factsheet

Tambja capensis

Related messages

  1. Re: Tambja capensis from South Africa
    From: Charles Rowe, October 2, 2003
  2. Tambja capensis from South Africa
    From: Rudolph van Jaarsveld, August 22, 2003
  3. Tambja capensis from South Africa
    From: Valda Fraser, July 17, 2000

Show factsheet and all related messages