Robastra luteolineata - new for New Zealand

February 22, 1999
From: Ross Armstrong

Dear Bill

Attached is a photo of Tambja affinis from the Poor Knights Islands [northeastern New Zealand].

regards

Ross

Ross@northpower.co.nz

Armstrong, R., 1999 (Feb 22) Robastra luteolineata - new for New Zealand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/586

Dear Ross,
Thanks for the photo. This is Roboastra luteolineata. As I have discussed at the top of the page, this species has often been identified as Tambja affinis in Australia and New Zealand. Its anatomy shows that it is a species of Roboastra and so can't be Eliot's Nembrotha affinis, which, from his radula description, is really a species of Tambja. Species of Roboastra are interesting carnivores which prey on other nudibranchs. One species on the west coast of North America actively hunts down species of Tambja. In Ian Skipworth's photo at the top of the page there is a little colony of the arborescent bryozoan which looks like Scrupocellaria (see inset here). I wouldn't mind betting that your Roboastra luteolineata is looking for species of Tambja on the bryozoan. If you want to advance "science" it would be worth looking out for any feeding encounters between Roboastra and the species of Tambja which you find in the same locality. It might be interesting to "set up" a meeting between the two with a camera at the ready!
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

PS: if you get any pictorial evidence I would love a photo for the Forum.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Feb 22). Comment on Robastra luteolineata - new for New Zealand by Ross Armstrong. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/586

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