Tambja gabrielae
Pola, Cervera & Gosliner, 2005

Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Superfamily: ANADORIDOIDEA
Family: Polyceridae
Subfamily: Nembrothinae

DISTRIBUTION

So far known from Sulawesi (Indonesia), Philippines and Papua New Guinea.

PHOTO

Upper: NW Pulau Kapota, Tukang Besi Archipelago, SE Sulawesi, Indonesia. Depth: 6 m. Length: 20 mm. 23 August 2000. Reef drop-off, exposed area. Photographer: Lindsay Warren. Lower:  Lembeh Strait, Indonesia / Sulawesi, Celebes Sea. Depth: 15 meters. Length: about 8 cm, 07 December 2004. Coral garden. Photographer: Stefan Harrieder

The background colour is dark green, (appearing almost black in some individuals) with a pattern of bright yellow or orange spots and /or longitudinal bands. Sometimes some of the yellow spots can be bluish green, but for the sake of simplicity I will refer to them as 'yellow' in this description. There is a broad yellow band around the anterior edge of the notum which extends down each side of the body to just behind the gills where it breaks up inot a series of elongate patches down the posterior sides of the foot.  In the dorsal midline between the rhinophores is a large yellow spot, which can sometimes be milky blue-green. Midway between the rhinophores and the gills, there is usually another yellow spot in the dorsal midline. Behind that, the gills sit in a large coloured patch, which is yellow around the edge but usually blends to milky blue-green  against the gill bases. Behind the gills, there are yellow patches of irregular shape and size.
 
The three large tripinnate gills are dark blackish green with a milky blue-green line up the inner and outer rachis.  There is a broad yellow band running along each side of the body, and another bordering the edge of the foot. The raised rhinophoral sheaths are dark green. The rhinophoral clubs are bright yellow with a dark green region on the posterior side of the base. From records on the Forum, this animal can reach about 8 cm in length.  See T. affinis colour group page for a comparison of similarly coloured species.
 
Note: This species was previously known on the Forum as Tambja sp. 5.
  • Pola, M., Cervera, J.L. & Gosliner, T. (2005) Four New Species of Tambja Burn, 1962 (Nudibranchia: Polyceridae) from the Indo-Pacific. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 71: 257-267
Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2005 (August 15) Tambja gabrielae Pola, Cervera & Gosliner, 2005. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/tambgabr

Related messages


Tambja gabrielae from West Papua, Indonesia??

October 23, 2008
From: Fiona Kwok


Hi,

I found this one ~23 m on a coral reef wall in Waigeo, Raja Ampat, West Papua last year.

Locality: Alyui Bay, Waigeo, Raja Ampat, 23 metres, West Papua, Indonesia, Banda Sea, 22 February 2007, Island wall. Length: 60 - 70mm. Photographer: Fiona Kwok.

Is it a Tambja or otherwise?

thanks,
Fiona

fi.kwok@gmail.com

F. Kwok, 2008 (Oct 23) Tambja gabrielae from West Papua, Indonesia??. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20673

Dear Fiona,

Yes this is the fairly recently named Tambja gabrielae. In your message about Tambja tentaculata [#20789], I discuss how most species of Tambja feed on bryozoans. In the close-up alongside you can see Tambja gabrielae with its mouth between two plant-like bryozoan colonies. Although it is not actually eating, I wouldn't mind betting that it is about to.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Oct 23). Comment on Tambja gabrielae from West Papua, Indonesia?? by Fiona Kwok. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20673

Tambja gabrielae from the Sulawesi

February 8, 2007
From: Ken Tucker

Thought this photo of Tambja gabrielae would make a nice addition.

Locality: Lembeh Strait - Nudi Falls, 8 metres, Indonesia, Sulawesi, 27 Nov 2006. Length: 8 cm. Photographer: Ken Tucker.

Ken Tucker

ken@kilili.com

Tucker, K., 2007 (Feb 8) Tambja gabrielae from the Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19395

Thanks Ken,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Feb 8). Comment on Tambja gabrielae from the Sulawesi by Ken Tucker. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19395

Tambja gabrielae from Sulawesi

December 12, 2006
From: Mike Krampf

Dear Bill

I just thought I'd share these pics of Tambja gabrielae since they seem to have light green spots/lines on its back rather than the more yellow spots/lines shown in most of the pics on your site.

Locality: Dive Site - Demak off Bangka Island, 45 ft, Sulawesi, Indonesia, Celebes Sea, 22 October 2006, Fringing reef. Length: 5 cm. Photographer: Mike Krampf.

Mike

mtkrampf@yahoo.com

Krampf, M., 2006 (Dec 12) Tambja gabrielae from Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18660

Dear Mike,
Photos of recently named species are always welcome, as they help us to build up an idea of the colour variation we can expect to find in the species. A good example is Kristin Anderson's recent message [#18871] which tends to suggest that the recently named T. victoriae may be a colour form of the much older T. affinis.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Dec 12). Comment on Tambja gabrielae from Sulawesi by Mike Krampf. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/18660

Tambja gabrielae from Irian Jaya

March 15, 2006
From: Roberto Sozzani


Dear Bill,
Here are photos of 3 specimens of Tambja gabrielae  from Irian Jaya.

Locality: Waigeo Islands - Irian Jaya, 15 metres, Indonesia, Pacific Ocean, February 2002, Coral and sandy slope. Length: 5 cm. Photographer: Roberto Sozzani

Best wishes
Roberto Sozzani
www.robertosozzani.it

roberto.sozzani@fastwebnet.it

Sozzani, R., 2006 (Mar 15) Tambja gabrielae from Irian Jaya. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16080

Thanks Roberto,
These show the quite different colour of the inside and outside of the gills very well.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Mar 15). Comment on Tambja gabrielae from Irian Jaya by Roberto Sozzani. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16080

Tambja gabrielae from Japan.

March 10, 2006
From: Sayoko Matsuda

Dear Dr.Bill
I think this sea slug is probably  Tambja gabrielae. I saw a lot of Tambja morosa, Tambja verconis and Tambja sagamiana but there was only one Tambja gabrielae. It is a place with abundant food. Those sea slugs are seen in this area from December to April, when the water temperature is lowest.

Locality: Otsuki-cyo Issai (the Pacific coasts of Japan), 15-18 m, Kochi Prefecture Japan,, Pacific Ocean,, 11 February 2006, on an iron frame (bait is on) or the tops of a stone of the side. Length: 70 mm. Photographer: K's staff.

Yours sincerely,
Sayoko Matsuda

kochi-ks@mx32.tiki.ne.jp

Sayoko Matsuda, 2006 (Mar 10) Tambja gabrielae from Japan.. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16041

Dear Sayo,
Thanks for this information on T. gabrielaein Japan. This is much further north than it has been recorded before. I would very much like to see photos of the other species of Tambja you mention, and any photos you have of them on their food
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Mar 10). Comment on Tambja gabrielae from Japan. by Sayoko Matsuda. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16041

Tambja gabrielae from Komodo Marine Park

August 18, 2005
From: Marli Wakeling

Hi Bill,
What a coincidence; just as you post all these new species of Tambja I finish scanning this photo of Tambja gabrielae to send to you. This was found on Cannibal Rock on Nusa Kode, Komodo Marine Park, Indonesia just a few weeks ago.

Locality: Cannibal Rock, Nusa Kode, Komodo Marine Park, Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Timor Sea. Depth: 35 feet. Length: 8 cm. 14 July 2005
Rocky pinnacle. Photographer: Marli Wakeling

Cheers,
Marli

scubamarli@gmail.com

M. Wakeling, 2005 (Aug 18) Tambja gabrielae from Komodo Marine Park. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14583

Thanks Marli,
It's nice to get some immediate response - if unplanned.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Aug 18). Comment on Tambja gabrielae from Komodo Marine Park by Marli Wakeling. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14583

Tambja gabrielae from Indonesia [1]

August 16, 2005
From: Lindsay Warren

Dear Bill
Having just read the recent paper by Marta Pola, Lucas Cervera & Terry Gosliner (2005), I thought you might like the 3 attached photos to add to the listings of what you have been calling Tambja sp. 5 and is now named Tambja gabrielae.

Locality: NW Pulau Kapota, Tukang Besi Archipelago, SE Sulawesi, Indonesia. Depth: 6 m. Length: 20 mm. 23 August 2000. Reef drop-off, exposed area. Photographer: Lindsay Warren

Separately [message #14566] I am sending a 4th shot you might also like of another specimen.

It is interesting to see the variation in colour of the yellow patches which seem to take on shades of green and orange as well. It would be interesting to know what is causing this - external light, individual pigmentation or the nature of the pigment cells. The shape of the oral tentacles and the "lateral slots of unknown function located between rhinophores and oral tentacles" referred to in the paper can be seen in some of the shots.

  • Pola, M., Cervera, J.L. & Gosliner, T. (2005) Four New Species of Tambja Burn, 1962 (Nudibranchia: Polyceridae) from the Indo-Pacific. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 71: 257-267

All the best and many thanks for your continued efforts with the Forum - as excellent as ever!
Lindsay

alldcl@compuserve.com

Warren, L.C.R., 2005 (Aug 16) Tambja gabrielae from Indonesia [1]. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14539

Dear Lindsay,
Thanks for the photos. yes I have been preparing some pages for these new species, which as you say will need me to reorganise some of the earlier messages on the Forum - that's usually the reason I can't change things over night when one of these important papers arrives. Thanks for the close-up photos of the head. I am not quite sure why they called the very characteristic organs on the head 'lateral slots'. I discussed and illustrated them on the Forum [see message #10513] and noted that they are very plastic organs, sometimes retracted and appaering as a slit or groove, and yet other times they are swollen out to form a ridge. Calling the a 'slot' doesn't reflect this plastic nature - it might be appropriate for preserved specimens but certainly not for living ones.

Concerning the colour change, have a look at Bernard Picton's comments [message #5981 ]. They certainly seem to have weird pigments

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Aug 16). Comment on Tambja gabrielae from Indonesia [1] by Lindsay Warren. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14539

Tambja gabrielae from Indonesia [2]

August 16, 2005
From: Lindsay Warren

To accompany my earlier message [#14539 ] here is a shot of another animal.

This specimen (Spec id: OS0998) was found by Jennifer Dean in August 2000 in the Tukang Besi Archipelago, SE Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is now lodged with the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Cibinong, Java: Reg No: MZB.Gst.11.909. At the time it was thought to be a variant of Roboastra arika.

Lindsay Warren

billr@seaslugforum.net

Warren, L., 2005 (Aug 16) Tambja gabrielae from Indonesia [2]. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14566

Thanks Lindsay,
It's nice to get photos of animals showing the variability of the blue-green pigment - or as you say in your earlier message, is it just a trick of the light?.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Aug 16). Comment on Tambja gabrielae from Indonesia [2] by Lindsay Warren. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14566

Re: Tambja sp. 5 from Philippines?

February 14, 2005
From: Marta Pola

Note added 16 August 2005: This species is now named Tambja gabrielae.

Dear Bill,
Concerning Andrea Biddittu's message [#13088]: This beautiful species has finally a name!!! I have described the species together with Dr. Juan Lucas Cervera and Dr. T.M. Gosliner in a paper called "Four New Species of Tambja Burn, 1962 (Mollusca, Nudibranchia, Polyceridae) from the Indo-Pacific". The paper has already been accepted in Journal of Molluscan Studies.
Best regards
Marta Pola

Marta Pola Pérez
Departamento de Biología
Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales
Universidad de Cádiz
11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz
Spain

marta.pola@uca.es

Pola, M., 2005 (Feb 14) Re: Tambja sp. 5 from Philippines?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/13132

Dear Marta,
Good news. I look forward to seeing it when it is published
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Re: Tambja olivaria from Sulawesi?

January 31, 2005
From: Stefan Harrieder

Note added 16 August 2005: This species is now reidentified as Tambja gabrielae.

Dear Bill,
Thank you for your great help. I'm afraid I don't have a proper picture from the head. All I can offer is another picture from the side of the nudibranch. I hope it is possible for you to find out if it is Tambja

In Debelius, Helmut Nudibranchs & Sea Snails Indo Pacific Field Guide the Tambja olivaria is described as just known from the Maldives but in your forum are also pictures of species from the Philipines. So it might also be possible that it is native in Sulawesi.

Again thank you very much for your help!
Stefan

sharrieder@t-online.de

Dear Stefan,
Thanks for this photo, it certainly shows the head better. The major difference I can see is that the rhinophores have orange on them and the large spot iin the midline just behind the rhinophores is the orange. In other specimens it is a greenish colour. This species has only recently been named and we still have a lot to learn about it - including its geographic distribution and it colour variation. Whether your animal turns out to be another unnamed species or a colour variation of Tambja olivaria it is a valuable addition to out knowledge
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Jan 31). Comment on Re: Tambja olivaria from Sulawesi? by Stefan Harrieder. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12905

Tambja olivaria from Sulawesi?

January 4, 2005
From: Stefan Harrieder

Note added 16 August 2005: This species is now reidentified as Tambja gabrielae.

Hallo everybody,
after searching in different books and on different sites in the Internet I still haven't found the name of this nudibranch.

Locality: Lembeh Strait, Indonesia / Sulawesi, Celebes Sea. Depth: 15 meters. Length: about 8 cm, 07 December 2004. Coral garden. Photographer: Stefan Harrieder

Can anybody help me?

A Happy New Year to everybody

Stefan

sharrieder@t-online.de

Harrieder, S., 2005 (Jan 4) Tambja olivaria from Sulawesi?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12888

Dear Stefan,
I guess this is a particularly colorful example of  Tambja olivaria. It would be helpful to see a photo of the head end, if you have one, becauwe there are some characteristic colour markings at that end. Usually the posterior end is not as colourful as in your photo.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Jan 4). Comment on Tambja olivaria from Sulawesi? by Stefan Harrieder. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/12888

Tambja sp. 5 mating

September 13, 2003
From: Erwin Köhler

Note added 16 August 2005: This species is now named Tambja gabrielae.

Dear Bill,
Here is a shot of Tambja sp. 5 from Indonesia, Sulawesi, divesite " Nudifalls" by Giorgio Berger, [incocnito@hotmail.com]

Length 4,5cm
depth 16m
date 15 July 2003

Regards
Erwin

Erwin@Philippine-Sea-Slugs.com

Köhler, E., 2003 (Sep 13) Tambja sp. 5 mating. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/10955

Thanks Erwin,
Bill Rudman

Tambja sp. 5 from North Sulawesi

October 10, 2002
From: Marli Wakeling

Note added 16 August 2005: This species is now named Tambja gabrielae.

Hi Bill,
This critter resembles a photo in Coleman's guide labeled Tambja cf. sagamiana. However, the colouration looks very different to me. The animal appears to have lost a rhinophore as well.

Location: Police Pier, Lembeh Straight, Suluwesi, Indonesia
Date: July, 2002
Depth: 30 feet
Length:10 cm.
Photograph: Marli Wakeling

Cheers,
Marli

scubamarli@excite.com

Wakeling, M., 2002 (Oct 10) Tambja sp. 5 from North Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8124

Dear Marli,
This is the species that is on the Forum as Tambja sp. 5.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Tambja sp. 5 from Sulawesi

July 11, 2002
From: Mary Jane Adams


Note added 16 August 2005: This species is now named Tambja gabrielae.

Hi Bill,
I believe this is what you call Tambja sp. 5. It is fairly common in Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi, Indonesia. All the ones I saw were yellow and black in much the same pattern and about 4-5cm. long. These two were feeding on bryozoans during daylight hours. I photographed the upper image at Nudi Falls and the lower one at Kepal Indah in April, 2002

Best regards,
Mary Jane

divepng@yahoo.com

Adams, M J., 2002 (Jul 11) Tambja sp. 5 from Sulawesi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6885

Thanks Mary Jane,
Bill Rudman

Tambja sp. 5 from Sulawesi, Indonesia

January 16, 2002
From: Bernard Picton


Note added 16 August 2005: This species is now named Tambja gabrielae.

Hi Bill,
We found Tambja sp.5 in Hoga, SE Sulawesi [Indonesia] in Sept 1997. It is very odd in that the colour looks orange to the naked eye but comes out yellow-green in photographs - some of these Nembrotha / Tambja species must have weird pigments - I think they fluoresce or something.

Bernard

bernard.picton.um@nics.gov.uk

Picton, B. , 2002 (Jan 16) Tambja sp. 5 from Sulawesi, Indonesia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5981

Thannks Bernard,
The other things their pigments seem to do is suck in all available light and make photography very difficult. In your lower photo the animal seems to be feeding - or at least taking a great interest in - an arborescent bryozoan
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Jan 16). Comment on Tambja sp. 5 from Sulawesi, Indonesia by Bernard Picton . [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5981

Re: Tambja sp. 5 from North Sulawesi, Indonesia

June 14, 2001
From: Erwin Köhler

Note added 16 August 2005: This species is now named Tambja gabrielae.

Dear Bill,
This Tambja sp. is at Mike's site: http://siolibrary.ucsd.edu/slugsite/nudiwk01.htm
and at my site: http://www.medslugs.de/E/Philippines/Tambja_sp_B_01.htm.
Dave Behrens wrote that it is still to be named.
Erwin

Erwin@medslugs.de

Köhler, E., 2001 (Jun 14) Re: Tambja sp. 5 from North Sulawesi, Indonesia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4545

Thanks Erwin,
I didn't think it had name but I thought I had better check. It can be Tambja sp. 5 for a while.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Jun 14). Comment on Re: Tambja sp. 5 from North Sulawesi, Indonesia by Erwin Köhler. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4545

Tambja sp. from North Sulawesi, Indonesia

May 31, 2001
From: Jeff Rosenfeld

Note added 16 August 2005: This species is now named Tambja gabrielae.

Hi Bill,
I've recently been going through my nudibranch gallery http://www.oz.net/~vibrant/nudibranchs.html) attempting to confirm some
identifications and gain some information about the given species.

I've come up with about two dozen photos that either lack positive id's or for which I've been able to find very little information. Dave Behrens graciously assisted with most of my id's. At the time, we called this shot Tambja sp. It was taken in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia in July, 1997.

Any information you have about the species would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Jeff

jhrosenfeld@seattleschools.org

Rosenfeld, J., 2001 (May 31) Tambja sp. from North Sulawesi, Indonesia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4391

Dear Jeff,
I thought I had seen this somewhere but after a fairly exhaustive hunt I must admit defeat. I guess at the moment Tambja sp. will have to do, unless someone knows its name.
Cheers,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (May 31). Comment on Tambja sp. from North Sulawesi, Indonesia by Jeff Rosenfeld . [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4391