Trapania japonica
(Baba, 1935)
Order: NUDIBRANCHIA
Suborder: DORIDINA
Family: Goniodorididae
DISTRIBUTION
Known from Japan, Hong Kong, Queensland and New South Wales, so possibly has a wide western Pacific distribution.
PHOTO
Shelly Beach, Manly, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, October 1984. 11mm long alive. PHOTO: Bill Rudman.
This species was described from a preserved animal and no information is available on the colour of the type specimen. However it has a unique shaped radular tooth which suggests that it can be identified with the animal illustrated here from Australia and from Hong Kong. Other similarly coloured species are Trapania darvelli which is white with brown gills, rhinophores, head tentacles and lateral processes and Trapania sp. illustrated here from Western Australia, which also has brown spots.
References:
• Rudman,W.B. (1987) The genus Trapania (Nudibranchia: Goniodorididae) in the Indo-West Pacific. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 53: 189-212.
• Rudman, W.B. & Darvell, B.W. (1990) Opisthobranch molluscs of Hong Kong. Part 1. Goniodorididae, Onchidorididae, Triophidae, Gymnodorididae, Chromodorididae, (Nudibranchia). Asian Marine Biology, 7: 31-79
Rudman, W.B., 1998 (November 14) Trapania japonica (Baba, 1935). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/trapjapo
Related messages
Trapania japonica? from Flores, Indonesia
June 3, 2008
From: Teresa Zuberbühler
Dear Bill
I send you here some pictures of what I think must be Trapania japonica.
These Nudibranchs are so small, the quality of the photos are not so good - sorry.
Locality: Maumere, 10-15 m, Flores, Inodnesia, Pacific, August 06, sand and mud. Length: 7 mm. Photographer: Teresa (Zubi) Zuberbühler.
Teresa (Zubi) Zuberbühler
webmaster@starfish.ch
Zuberbühler, T., 2008 (Jun 3) Trapania japonica? from Flores, Indonesia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21603
Dear Zubi,
I think you are probably right identifying these as T. japonica. I haven't seen one like this in which the brown spots are replaced by large patches like this but we still have much to learn about colour variability in these species.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Radular morphology of Trapania japonica
March 12, 2008
From: Bill Rudman
To complement today's posting of many new species of Trapania here are some SEM photos showing aspects of the morphology of the radula of Trapania japonica from Hong Kong and Queensland, Australia.
SEM photos showing sections of the radular ribbon. Upper: AM C145291, 20 January 1985, Site 11.9, Ma Tsai Pai, Tiu Chung Chau, Port Shelter, 16 m, Hong Kong. Lower: AM C112340, May 1978. Cape Pallarenda, Townsville, Queensland. SEM Photos: G. Avern. Scale = 10 µm.
- Rudman, W.B. (1987) The genus Trapania (Nudibranchia: Goniodorididae) in the Indo-West Pacific. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 53: 189-212.
Best wishes
Bill Rudman
Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Mar 12) Radular morphology of Trapania japonica. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21441
Trapania japonica from Hong Kong
February 2, 2002
From: Bill Rudman & Brian Darvell
Here is some information and photos on Trapania japonica from Brian Darvell's Hong Kong collections.
The colour pattern of dark brown spots and yellow lateral processes characterizes this species. Although described from a decolorized preserved specimen, the unique morphology of the radular teeth allowed this species to be reidentified. It grows to at least 11 mm long.
PHOTO:
AM C145291, 20 January 1985, Site 11.9, Ma Tsai Pai, Tiu Chung Chau, Port Shelter, 16 m, Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Collection Records:
AM C145291, 20 January 1985, Site 11.9, Ma Tsai Pai, Tiu Chung Chau, Port Shelter, 16 m, Hong Kong.
Reference:
• Rudman, W.B. & Darvell, B.W. (1990) Opisthobranch molluscs of Hong Kong. Part 1. Goniodorididae, Onchidorididae, Triophidae, Gymnodorididae, Chromodorididae, (Nudibranchia). Asian Marine Biology, 7: 31-79
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman & Brian Darvell
