Tamanovalva limax
Kawaguti & Baba, 1959

Order: SACOGLOSSA
Superfamily: OXYNOOIDEA
Family: Juliidae

DISTRIBUTION

Known only from Japan, but possibly has a wider distribution.

PHOTO

Hachijo Island Japan, Depth: 8m, Length: 5mm. Photos: Nishina Masayoshi

This animal was the first living bivalved gastropod to be discovered. Shells of related animals had been known from both fossil and recent deposits and had usually been considered to be an unusual bivalve although some authors had noted the gastropod like larval shell on one valve. There is some uncertainty about which generic names should be used for this species. This is discussed in a separate message. It is reported to feed on Caulerpa okamurai.

References:
• Kawaguti, S. & Baba, K. (1959) A preliminary note on a two-valved sacoglossan gastropod, Tamanovalva limax, n. gen., n. sp., from Tamano, Japan. Biol. J. Okayama Univ. 5(3-4): 177-184.
• Baba, K (1961) On the identification and the affinity of Tamanovalva limax, a bivalved sacoglossan mollusc in Japan. Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, 9: 37-62, Pls 1-4.
• Baba, K. (1961) The shells and radulae in Berthelinia, a bivalved sacoglossan genus. Venus, The Japanese Journal of Malacology, 21: 389-401, text-figs 1-4, Pl. 21.

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2002 (March 11) Tamanovalva limax Kawaguti & Baba, 1959. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/tamalima

Related messages

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    From: Bill Rudman, April 10, 2007
  3. Tamanovalva limax from southern Queensland
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  4. Another photo of Tamanovalva limax
    From: Nishina Masayoshi, June 12, 2002
  5. Is this Tamanovalva or Berthelinia?
    From: Nishina Masayoshi, March 12, 2002

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