Tambja tenuilineata
Miller & Haagh, 2005
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: ANADORIDOIDEA
Family: Polyceridae
Subfamily: Nembrothinae
DISTRIBUTION
East Australian coast (New South Wales, southern Queensland, Lord Howe Island), northern New Zealand.
PHOTO
Fly Point, Port Stephens, central New South Wales, Oct 1986. Length approx 30 mm. AM C151518. Photo: Bill Rudman.
Formerly on the Forum as Tambja sp. 1, this species is not uncommon on arborescent bryozoans, especially Bugula dentata, and ranges from green to yellow with black longitudinal lines which are usually sunken grooves. In some specimens the black lines can be very indistinct or even absent. The rhinophores are the same colour as the background colour except for the present of a dark region at the rhinophore tip which ranges from almost black to a lighter purple. There a five or six gills which also have a background colour matching the body, and a dark or purplish tip, as on the rhinophores, but in some animals the gill lamellae can also be purplish or a darker almost black colour, giving the gills almost black edging.
- Miller, M.C. & Haagh, J.M. (2005) A new species of the dorid nudibranch genus Tambja Burn, 1962 (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia) from Australasia. Vita Malacologica, 3: 55-60.
Rudman, W.B., 2007 (May 17) Tambja tenuilineata Miller & Haagh, 2005. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/tambtenu
Related messages
Tambja tenuilineata mating trouble!
May 31, 2007
From: Nicholas Missenden
Hi Bill,
Just thought I would send you a couple of pictures of these two Tambja tenuilineata having trouble mating in strong surge. These picture show how large the organs can actually get in comparison to the nudi itself.
Locality: Bare Island, South Wall, Botany Bay, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Depth: 18 m, Length: 4 cm. 29 September 2005. Broken reef, sandy bottom Photographer: Nicholas Missenden
Regards
Nick
njmpm@iinet.net.au
Missenden, N.J., 2007 (May 31) Tambja tenuilineata mating trouble!. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14967
Dear Nick,
Thanks for this series. It's interesting to see they remain close to their food bryozoan Bugula dentata, despite the surge
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Feeding Tambja tenuilineata in New Zealand
May 17, 2007
From: Samuel Kemp
Dear Bill
Thought you might like these pictures of various Tambja species feeding. The pictures were all taken whilst diving Middle Arch, Poor Knight's Islands, last weekend.
Locality: Middle Arch, Poor Knight's Islands, 10 m, New Zealand, Pacific, 04 February 2007. Photographer: Samuel Kemp.
Samuel Kemp
samuel_kemp@hotmail.com
Kemp, S.V., 2007 (May 17) Feeding Tambja tenuilineata in New Zealand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19907
Dear Sam,
I have split your message into three, all of which show a different species of Tambja feeding on the blue plant-like bryozoan Bugula dentata. This one shows the recently named Tambja tenuilineata which used to be called Tambja sp. 1 on the Forum. I have been meaning to include this species on the Forum for some time but have been unable to get a copy of the original description. It was described in a journal called Vita Malacologica which is an occasional supplement of the journal Basteria. Institutional libraries seem to have great difficulty obtaining supplements like this and I am still waiting.
Your other two photos show Tambja verconis [message #19419] and Tambja morosa [message #19908]
Miller, M. C., & Haagh, J. M. (2005) A new species of the dorid nudibranch genus Tambja Burn, 1962 (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia) from Australasia. Vita Malacologica 3: 55-60.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Tambja sp. 1 feeding
February 21, 2004
From: Ross Armstrong
Hi Bill
Here is a photo from the Poor Knights Ids [northeastern New Zealand] of the littleTambja sp. 1 feeding.
Kind regards
Ross Armstrong
ross@oceanwildlife.com
Armstrong, R., 2004 (Feb 21) Tambja sp. 1 feeding. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12261Note added 17 May 2007: This species is now named Tambja tenuilineata
Thanks Ross,
Bill Rudman
Tambja sp.1 laying eggs & mating
September 15, 2003
From: Leanne & David Atkinson
Note added 17 May 2007: This species is now named Tambja tenuilineata
Dear Bill,
These photos ofTambja sp.1 were taken on the same dive.The first photo is egg laying. The second is pre or post mating. Sorry about the quality of the photos we had a new camera with auto everything but didn't realise until too late that we weren't getting good depth of field. By the time we realised the problem and corrected it by going back to manual settings the water had warmed up and the Tambja's had gone.
Size: 5mm
Date: 08.10.02
Time: 9:30am
Tide: High 1.7m
Depth: 18m
Water Temperature: 16 degrees c.
Location: Halifax Sponge Gardens, Marine Reserve, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia
Regards,
Leanne & David Atkinson
atk@hunterlink.net.au
Atkinson, L. & D., 2003 (Sep 15) Tambja sp.1 laying eggs & mating. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9609Thanks Leanne & David,
Bill Rudman
Tambja sp from Nelson Bay - Australia
December 21, 2002
From: Dave Harasti
Hi Bill,
I have attached a photo of an animal that I believe is Roboastra luteolineata - is this correct? This animal was found at Halifax Park - Nelson Bay, NSW Australia in November 2002 at 23 metres (water temp 16 degrees). I have only ever seen this animal once.
Regards,
Dave
diving@webone.com.au
Harasti, D., 2002 (Dec 21) Tambja sp from Nelson Bay - Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8451Note added 17 May 2007: This species is now named Tambja tenuilineata
Dear Dave,
This is a little species ofTambja which is not uncommon in New South Wales and other parts of southeastern Australia. It is also found in northeastern New Zealand. As iin your photo, it feeds on, and is normally found with this arborescent bryozoan.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
New Species from New Zealand?
January 23, 2002
From: Janene Mills
Dear Bill,
Last weekend I was diving at the Poor Knights Islands, [N.E. New Zealand] at a site called Middle Arch, I was on the wall to the left of the air bubble cave at about 18M when I saw a Nudibranch which I have never seen before it was completely yellow or a fluoro yellow in colour about 30mm long and it was next to 3 or 4Tambja sp, moments later I saw another but this was solo any ideas?
Cheers
Janene
noels.jack@paradise.net.nz
Mills, J., 2002 (Jan 23) New Species from New Zealand?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6050Note added 17 May 2007: This species is now named Tambja tenuilineata
Dear Janene,
I guess you are talking about 4Tambja sp. 1. This species ranges in colour from dark green with black lines to bright yellow. Gareth Jones just recently sent a photo of the yellow one from the Poor Knights so this colour form must be having a bit of reproductive success at the moment in New Zealand. However, since you didn't give me many clues it's possible you are talking about quite a different animal. If so let me know and I'll have another guess.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
New Zealand nudibranch
January 3, 2002
From: Gareth Jones
Hello again Dr Rudman.
Here is another nudibranch (1cm) which I photographed recently at the Poor Knights. [Northeastern New Zealand]. I'm wondering if it is a juvenile Tambja of some sort .. Interestingly, I've seen quite a few more of the little Doto and Tritonia flemingi in the last couple of weeks.
Regards
Gareth Jones
rees@divenz.co.nz
Jones, G., 2002 (Jan 3) New Zealand nudibranch. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5886Note added 17 May 2007: This species is now named Tambja tenuilineata
Dear Gareth,
Yes this is a juvenile Tambja. It is what I am callingTambja sp. 1 at present and is found in southeastern Australia and northern New Zealand. As it grows it becomes green and develops black lines.
I am interested in your continued sightings of Tritonia and Doto. Some more photos would be useful, especially of the Tritonia if you find it on a potential food source.
best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Tambja sp. from Port Stephens, NSW
December 16, 1999
From: Ron Greer
Dr Bill Rudman,
Here is another one from Fly Point in Port Stephens, [New South Wales] which may be of interest to you.
It is a strikingly marked nudibranch of indeterminate identity. Size ranged from about 10mm to 25mm. Seen day and night from about 8-18 metres, generally on a blue/green bryozoan. They were initially found by my dive buddy and once seen we located about 25 over the next few days. I also located one
under the Tathra wharf on the NSW South coast on the 27 Nov 99. Your assistance in identification would be appreciated.
I hope this information is of use and await your reply.
Regards
Ron Greer
diveimage@i-o.net.au
Greer, R., 1999 (Dec 16) Tambja sp. from Port Stephens, NSW. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1636Note added 17 May 2007: This species is now named Tambja tenuilineata
Dear Ron,
This species ofTambja is not uncommon in southeastern Australia, some animals being more distinctly coloured than others. It is almost always found on or near the arborescent (bush-like) bryozoan Bugula you mention in your note.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
Tambja from New Zealand
December 10, 1998
From: Ross Armstrong
Hi Bill
I have seen these little nudibranchs at the Poor Knights Islands (northeastern New Zealand) on several occasions. The ones I have seen are about 2-3cm long. Are these small Tambja affinis or a different species.
The photos were taken by Brian Sopher and would have been in less than 10m. Is it the same species with different colouring?
thanks
Ross Armstrong.
ross@northpower.co.nz
Armstrong, R., 1998 (Dec 10) Tambja from New Zealand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/372Note added 17 May 2007: This species is now named Tambja tenuilineata.
Dear Ross,
Thanks for the photos. Your animals are both the same species - an unnamed species of Tambja. It is quite common in New South Wales waters and I had planned to finish a paper on it this year but unforseen events delayed my plans. Hopefully it should be finished early in the New Year. In both your photographs you can see the arborescent (plant-like) bryozoan on which it feeds and is usually found.
Any other photos of New Zealand nudibranchs would be very welcome, even if you know what they are.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
Rudman, W.B., 1998 (Dec 10). Comment on Tambja from New Zealand by Ross Armstrong. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/372