Aplysia sagamiana Baba, 1949
- Location
- Hakoshima / Uenoshima, Koza, Wakayama, Japan
- Date
- 2018/01/13
- Length
- 5mm
- Depth
- 10.0m
- Water temperature
- 15.0℃
Description
A small Aplysiidae, body length 35-70 mm. The parapodia are fused at the posterior end. The mantle aperture is relatively large; a purple gland is present. The posterior of the foot does not form a sucker, and the shell is not strongly arched dorsally. The body is vermilion red, with a few small black spots scattered on the head, body sides, and inner and outer faces of the parapodia. Radula formula 35×13-22.1.13-22, with tooth shape typical of the genus.Distribution
Type locality is Kurosaki, Sagami Bay (intertidal/shallow, January 1948, single specimen). The original description (Baba, 1949) records the species only from Sagami Bay.Etymology
The specific epithet sagamiana is a place-name adjective referring to the type locality, Sagami Bay. The original description does not give an explicit etymology paragraph; the toponymic derivation is self-evident from context.Remarks
Differs from sympatric Aplysia kurodai and Aplysia parvula in (1) the small body size with a vermilion ground colour and only sparse black flecks, and (2) parapodia that are not fused anteriorly.References
A Kindle field guide by the site author
Kimoto N. (2026). Sea Slugs of Japan & the Indo-Pacific, 2nd Edition.
Kindle Edition
View on Amazon PR (Amazon Associates)Seasonality
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Photos of Aplysia sagamiana
Tag:
Same Genus Nudibranchs
Academic Database
Sea slug observation data is available in international marine biodiversity databases.