Tambja olivaria
Yonow, 1994
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: ANADORIDOIDEA
Family: Polyceridae
DISTRIBUTION
Indo-West Pacific? Known from Maldives and recorded here from the Philippines.
PHOTO
Upper: reef around Gato Island, Philippines. Depth: 15m. Approx 50mm in length. Photo: Paul Osmond. Lower: Moalboal, Cebu Island, Philippines, at 12 m. May 24, 2001, divesite "Pescador", length 62 mm. [Note: this animal lacks much of the yellow pattern mentioned in the original description].Photo: Erwin Koehler.
Known only frrom the holotype and some photographs from the Maldives, the is species is characterised by its dull 'olive' green background colour and pattern of black and orange-yellow markings. The black and yellow pattern is quite variable but its major elements consist of a yellow band that runs a round the anterior end, just in from the dark green edge, then runs back on each side to join behind the gills. Parts of this band can be absent, and at the posterior end, the join behind the gills it forms quite an acute angle. There are a pair of black patches just behind the rhinophores. The raised rhinophore pocket is yellow with a black border. The rhinophore club is black. The gills are yellow on the outer face with black lamellae. There are traces of a yellow submarginal band around the edge of the foot. This becomes very distinct at the posterior end of the foot which also has a black patch. Yonow (1994) notes that this animal was found on the arborescent bryozoan Bugula dentata and the collector (S. Harwood) reported that it exuded masses of green pigment when touched and produced an acid like burn on the collector's hands.
Reference:
• Yonow, N. (1994) Opisthobranchs from the Maldive Islands, including descriptions of seven new species (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Revue fr. Aquariol., 20(4): 97-130.
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (June 29) Tambja olivaria Yonow, 1994. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/tamboliv
Related messages
Tambja olivaria from Bali, Indonesia
October 7, 2008
From: Paul Osmond
Hi Bill,
I have looked across the site and all my ID books and I can't seem to find this one. Tentatively I have called this a Tambja sp. on my website but only because it reminds me somewhat of Tambja olivaria in shape and patterns.
This largish nudibranch was moving across the dark soil in Tulamben Bay in Bali, Indonesia. One great macro site and full of nudibranchs in the rich soil bottom.
Locality: Tulamben Slopes, 10 m, Bali, Indonesia, 20 January 2007, Muck diving, rich soil. Length: 55 mm. Photographer: Paul T. Osmond.
You can see a little reddish friend of his (Flabellina sp.?) in some of these images. Neither showed any interest in the other as they passed by.
Yours,
Paul
www.deepseaimages.com
marriard@deepseaimages.com
Osmond, P.T., 2008 (Oct 7) Tambja olivaria from Bali, Indonesia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20339
Dear Paul,
I am pretty sure this is Tambja olivaria. The main difference from typical T. olivaria is that the background colour is bluish rather than greenish, but if you look at the arrangement of the longitudinal lines, and colour of the rhinophores and gills, it matches very well. The whole animal has a 'washed out' colour look so its possible the colour is partly dependent on pigments derived from its food - or perhaps its just a pale individual.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Tambja olivaria from the Philippines
March 25, 2004
From: Paul Osmond
Dear Bill,
I think you are going to like this one - I believe this is Tambja olivaria displaying a full set of yellow banding.
Once again this image is from the Philippines on the reef that surrounds Gato Island (which is near Cebu and Malapascua Islands). It was found at a depth of 15m and was approximately 50mm in size.
I see a previous record on the site of this Tambja at 'Lapus-Lapus' at Malapascua Island - you can actually see this site in the distance from Gato Island.
marriard@deepseaimages.com
Osmond, P., 2004 (Mar 25) Tambja olivaria from the Philippines. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12539
Thanks Paul,
You are right. I do like this one. It's always good to get an animal that confirms an identification. The earlier photos we have from the Philippines lacked a lot of the yellow markings described in the original material for the Maldives so getting photos of an animal that matches the original description is very useful.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman
Tambja olivaria? from the Philippines
April 18, 2002
From: Erwin Köhler
Dear Bill,
Here is a shot of Tambja olivaria (I guess) from the Philippines, Malapascua Island, divesite "Lapus-Lapus".
Size: 57mm
Depth: 8m
Date: 24.Feb.2002
Erwin
Erwin@medslugs.de
Köhler, E., 2002 (Apr 18) Tambja olivaria? from the Philippines. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6738Thanks Erwin,
I am not expert on this species but it is certainly the same as your earlier photo which I identified as Tambja olivaria.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Tambja olivaria from the Philippines
July 3, 2001
From: Erwin Köhler
Message: Dear Bill,
Here is the next one of my recent trip to the Philippines, Cebu Island, Moalboal at 12 m depth on May 24, 2001, divesite "Pescador", length 62 mm.
Is it a species of Tambja?
Erwin
Erwin@medslugs.de
Köhler, E., 2001 (Jul 3) Tambja olivaria from the Philippines. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4548Dear Erwin,
This is Tambja olivaria, which was described quite recently by Nathalie Yonow from the Maldives. Your animal lacks a lot of the yellow markings described in Maldives animals but I have no doubt they are the same species.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
