Tambja ceutae from Spain
February 8, 2001
From: Alma Sánchez
Dear Dr. Rudman,
Here are some photos of Roboastra cf. europaea García Gómez, 1985. Specimen collected in March 2000 at the Bay of Algeciras (Strait of Gibraltar, southern Spain) at 28 m.depth, Size: 50mm, Place: La Cañonera reef.
Cheers,
Alma Sánchez.
almasanchez83@hotmail.com
Sánchez, S., 2001 (Feb 8) Tambja ceutae from Spain. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3730Dear Alma,
I am pretty sure this isn't a colour variety of Roboastra europaea. I think it is Tambja ceutae, which was first found at Ceuta, Straits of Gibraltar. It is similar in external appearance to R. europaea but lacks the large oral tentacles of that species and has a bright blue outer face to the gills rather than bright yellow. In this species the yellow lines are much thinner than in R. europaea. I don't know how big it grows. The original specimen was about 35mm long.
Although these two species look very similar, species of Roboastra are hunting carnivores, eating other opisthobranchs, while species of Tambja graze on bryozoans.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
Note added Feb 11 2001: See Lucas Cervera's message showing this is a colour form of Roboastra europaea.
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Feb 8). Comment on Tambja ceutae from Spain by Alma Sánchez. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3730Related messages
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