Related Tambja – Tambja affinis

, Related Tambja, Tambja affinis
Depth: 15 - 20 m

Afghanistan, Alaska, Algeria, Andaman and Nicobar, Angola, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Arctic, Argentina, Ascension Island, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores Islands, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Cocos Islands, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Corsica Island, Crete Island, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira Islands, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Saint Martin, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sardinia Island, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Sicily Island, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, US Minor Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf, Yellow Sea

The Related Tambja – Tambja affinis is a captivating species of nudibranch, showcasing vibrant colors and fascinating adaptations for survival. This charismatic creature, belonging to the family Polyceridae, inhabits a diverse array of marine environments, making it an intriguing subject of study for marine biologists and enthusiasts alike.

Description & Characteristics

Tambja affinis is a relatively small nudibranch, reaching a maximum size of approximately 25 millimeters. It displays an array of colors, often characterized by a bright orange or red body with prominent white or yellow spots. This vibrant coloration serves as a warning to potential predators, indicating the presence of toxins within the nudibranch’s tissues. The body is elongated and slender, with two prominent rhinophores, or sensory organs, that help the nudibranch navigate its surroundings and detect prey. Additionally, Tambja affinis possesses cerata, finger-like projections along its back, which aid in respiration and defense.

Habitat and Occurrence

Tambja affinis is a common inhabitant of various marine zones, including the Subtidal, sublittoral, infralittoral, and deep zone of the oceans from the lower limit of the intertidal zone (intertidal) to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth. neritic. This wide distribution reflects its adaptability to different environmental conditions. This nudibranch thrives in saltwater habitats, often found among rocky reefs, seagrass beds, and sponge aggregations, where its favored food source is readily available.

Taxonomy

Tambja affinis belongs to the Class: Gastropoda, Order: Nudibranchia, and Family: Polyceridae. This classification places it within a larger group of marine mollusks known for their distinctive lack of shells and brightly colored bodies.

Feeding

Tambja affinis is a carnivorous nudibranch, specializing in the consumption of Bryozoans (sea mats). These colonial organisms, resembling moss or small plants, provide a reliable food source for this nudibranch. Its diet consists mainly of Bryozoans, highlighting its role as a food specialist within the marine ecosystem.

Associated Species

Image References

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