Tambja olivaria
Yonow, 1994
Photographed by: Colin Teo
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Opisthobranchia |
| Order: | Nudibranchia |
| Suborder: | Doridina |
| Family: | Polyceridae |
| Species: | Tambja olivaria |
Comment from Nathalie Yonow on photo #24444
It looks like olivaria - a bit far from home.Comment from Richard Willan on photo #8452
A juvenile individual.Comment from Richard Willan on photo #7707
This is probably a juvenile individual. Note the 2 pustules on the tail crest.Comment from Nathalie Yonow on photo #1209
There is Bugula very near its mouth and above left. This is the green bryozoan it was found feeding upon in the Maldives, so that is a good sign! How nice, a good range extension.Locality:
- Philippines
- Malapascua (3) Feb, Mar
- Moalboal (2) Mar, Dec
- Taiwan
- North East Coast (2) Jun, Aug
- Long Dong (1) Sep
- Thailand
- Phuket (2) Jul
- Maldives
- South Ari Atoll (1) Jan
- Indonesia
- Lombok (1) Nov
Pictures of Tambja olivaria
Similar Species
Author: Dr. Richard C. Willan
Roboastra luteolineata: Feeds voraciously on other nudibranchs; has very large oral tentacles; two pale stripes on the head between the rhinophores, neither of them expanded; no colour band around the rhinophoral sheath.
Tambja affinis or Tambja victoriae: Feeds on bryozoans; has relatively small oral tentacles; one pale stripe on the middle of the head between the rhinophores that is expanded; pale colour band around rhinophoral sheath.
Since they are so similarly coloured overall, perhaps some mimicry is going on.
The ways to separate Tambja affinis, Tambja victoriae and other Tambja species are set out nicely and clearly on Tambja affinis colour group in the Sea Slug Forum
