Tambja verconis in Broulee, New South Wales

November 29, 2007
From: Matthew Sullivan

I found this Nembrotha??? species at Broulee in southern New South Wales on 01 March 2007 in about 4-5 metres of water. It was less than 25 mm in length.

Locality: Broulee, 5 m, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific Ocean, 01 March 2007. Length: 25 mm. Photographer: Matthew Sullivan.

Can you help with identifying it? No one that I've talked to has seen anything similar before in this area.

Thanks,
Matthew

matthew.sullivan@verizonbusiness.com

Sullivan, M., 2007 (Nov 29) Tambja verconis in Broulee, New South Wales. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21215

Dear Matthew,

This animal is related to Nembrotha, but while species of that genus feed on ascidians, your animal is Tambja verconis which feeds on bryozoans. In the close up alongside you will see some blue plant-like growths at the top left. They are small branches of the bryozoan Bugula dentata which T. verconis eats. As you will see from the Fact Sheet and attached messages, this species is found around southern Australia and northern New Zealand. On the east coast of Australia it has been found as far north as Port Stephens, but as it is dependent on Bugula for its food, its is never a permanent resident anywhere, its presence being controlled by the irregular appearance and disappearance of its food.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Nov 29). Comment on Tambja verconis in Broulee, New South Wales by Matthew Sullivan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21215

Factsheet

Tambja verconis

Related messages

  1. Tambja verconis - Life Stages?
    From: Steve Ivacko, August 10, 2007
  2. Feeding Tambja verconis in New Zealand
    From: Samuel Kemp, May 17, 2007
  3. Tambja verconis and bryozoan
    From: Jacqui Younger, April 6, 2007
  4. Tambja verconis laying eggs
    From: Melissa Barnes, April 6, 2007
  5. Tambja verconis from Melbourne, Australia
    From: Martina Fuchsberger, April 11, 2005
  6. Tambja verconis egg-laying
    From: Leanne & David Atkinson, January 26, 2004
  7. Tambja verconis mating
    From: Steve Winkworth, December 24, 2003
  8. Tambja verconis from Port Stephens
    From: Leanne & David Atkinson, December 12, 2003
  9. Tambja verconis from Mokohinau Ids, N.Z.
    From: Mark Burnett, April 28, 2003
  10. Tambja verconis from Victoria, Australia
    From: Stuart Hutchison, February 20, 2002
  11. Tambja verconis from New South Wales
    From: Erik Schloegl, March 26, 2001
  12. Tambja verconis from Kurnell, Sydney
    From: A. Lumnitzer & D. Piotrowska, May 31, 2000
  13. More photos of N.Z. Tambja verconis
    From: Ross Armstrong, February 19, 1999
  14. Tambja verconis from New Zealand
    From: Ross Armstrong, December 13, 1998

Show factsheet and all related messages