Tambja sp. 9
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: ANADORIDOIDEA
Family: Polyceridae
Subfamily: Nembrothinae
DISTRIBUTION
Known only from Sri Lanka
PHOTO
'Diyamba', Hikkaduwa. Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean. Depth: 14 m. Length: 12 mm. 10 November 2004. rocks covered in fixed invertebrates. Photographer: Marina Poddubetskaia
This species is known only from the few juveniles mentioned in Marina Poddubetskaia's message [#14478]. In that message Marta Pola comments:
"... It is a Tambja but with some features of Roboastra as the well developed oral tentacles and a lateral tooth with an upper cusp with two very large denticles. The problem... they are juveniles and the reproductive system is not well developed. I am quite sure they are not specimens of Tambja amakusana, I am sure it is a new species but I need adults to describe it. It is a pity because they are really beautiful!"
Rudman, W.B., 2005 (August 24) Tambja sp. 9 [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/tambsp9
Related messages
New Tambja species from Sri Lanka
August 24, 2005
From: Marina Poddubetskaia Ossokine
Dear Bill,
Following the recent messages on Tambja, I would like to complete this set by adding a message on new species I found in Sri Lanka a year ago and which can't be described for now. I saw only 2 juvenile specimens which were collected and sent to Marta Pola for study.
Locality: 'Diyamba', Hikkaduwa. Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean. Depth: 14 m. Length: 12 mm. 10 November 2004. rocks covered in fixed invertebrates
Photographer: Marina Poddubetskaia
Here is an extract from Marta's answer :
"...It is a Tambja but with some features of Roboastra as the well developed oral tentacles and a lateral tooth with an upper cusp with two very large denticles. The problem... they are juveniles and the reproductive system is not well developed. I am quite sure they are not specimens of Tambja amakusana, I am sure it is a new species but I need adults to describe it. It is a pity because they are really beautiful!"
Maybe some divers have already seen this species somewhere : I noted that on the Forum some messages on 'rare' species generated many additional information. That's why I would like to share today this information with you and all the participants.
All the best,
Marina.
Photos: Marina Poddubetskaia - Nembro website
nembro@nembro.info
Thanks Marina,
I will call it Tambja sp. 9. it ceratinly seems that Tambja with long oral tentacles are more common than we initially thought. I hope this message can generate some new information.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
