Tambja abdere - spots behind rhinophores

May 24, 2002
From: Peter Ajtai

Dear Bill,
I've been noticing that a lot of Tambja - well, at least the Tambja abdere and Tambja eliora I've seen - have a pair of two dark patches behind their rhinophores. Do you know what this is. Could it be the patch beneath which the eyes are located?

In the photo, you can see one of these spots just to the right of the rhinophore. All of these guys that I've seen seem to have it. Thanks for your help...

Cheers,
Peter Ajtai.

ajtai@slugophile.org

Ajtai, P., 2002 (May 24) Tambja abdere - spots behind rhinophores. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6908

Dear Peter,
Yes the dark patch is associated with the postion of the eyes. The eyes are below the patch and the skin, sitting on the nerve ring around the oesophagus. Since the eyes can't form images, I guess it allows the eyes to sense light and dark, and shadows passing over the head. You can find similar 'patches' in many nudibranchs with opaque pigment on the dorsum. They are most noticeable in species in which the pigment is dark and very opaque. In species, such as these two species of Tambja with a dark brownish translucent colour to the skin, the patches are very obvious. Another species of Tambja with very obvious 'eye patches' is Tambja ceutae Garcia-Gomez & Ortea 1988.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (May 24). Comment on Tambja abdere - spots behind rhinophores by Peter Ajtai. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6908

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