Will I see these nudies in Raja Ampat?

[Hintermann]

I am leaving for Raja Ampat in a few days and two macro critters that I am hoping to capture on camera (among others) are Tambja Morosa and Nembrotha Yonowae nudibranchs. People have already said that I have a good chance of finding the TM but what about the NY? Are they to be found in the Raja Ampat dive sites? Any particular coral type that they hang onto?

 

[oszillodrom]

I haven't been to Raja Ampat itself, but the Tambja morosa I have found quite often in that part of the world. The NY, not so much. Apparently TM feeds on bryozoans, while NY feeds on ascidians, so look for them? I have found the TM quite often on sand.

In general, it seems to me that nudibranchs of a certain species are a very local and seasonal thing, there's loads of them on one dive site for a few months and then they disappear again, so you would be best off talking to local guides I think.

P.S. Why those two species?

 

[Hintermann]

P.S. Why those two species?

I was looking at a book on nudibranchs and flatworms of the Indo-Pacific and picked out a few that I was keen to see. Obviously, one cannot see them all but I was hoping to get a glimpse of those that appeal to me.

I saw lots of Nembrotha Cristata in the Komodo dive sites but only one Tambja Morosa and I could not get a good photo of that one. I have never seen a Nembrotha Yonowae, which looks like the Cristata's red cousin.

 

[oszillodrom]

I'm pretty sure I have never seen the Nembrotha yonowae either, to be honest (~100 dives in Sulawesi, ~500 dives around Mabul, Borneo).

 

[boletus1973]

I was looking at a book on nudibranchs and flatworms of the Indo-Pacific and picked out a few that I was keen to see. Obviously, one cannot see them all but I was hoping to get a glimpse of those that appeal to me.

I saw lots of Nembrotha Cristata in the Komodo dive sites but only one Tambja Morosa and I could not get a good photo of that one. I have never seen a Nembrotha Yonowae, which looks like the Cristata's red cousin.

this is nembrotha yonowae???? if yes i saw this nudi in bangka and only one time.... but bangka is more "closer" to RA than komodo.... ;-)

DSC06792 by boletus.italy, on Flickr

 

[Luko]

I saw lots of Nembrotha Cristata in the Komodo dive sites but only one Tambja Morosa and I could not get a good photo of that one. I have never seen a Nembrotha Yonowae, which looks like the Cristata's red cousin.

I've seen lots of Tambja Morosa in Bali, esp. around Padang Bai, also in Alor and in Anilao Philippines. Didn't see any in Raja Ampat.

Some of the most qualified nudibranch specialists like B.Rudman are skeptical about N.Yonowae and feel they are in fact synonyms to N.Guttata, though the variants of Guttata are quite large too, I've only seen a typical one in Alor -without my camera- and may be another one in Anilao. None in Raja Ampat.

 

[Hintermann]

From what info I can find, N. Guttata and N. Yonowae are synonymous. And yes Botelus, AFAIK that picture is one of NY.

 

[Hintermann]

Having just reurned from Raja Ampat, I want to report that I saw loads of nudies, including Tambja Morosa, Nembrotha Yonowae and the superb Gabriel's Tambja. Will be posting reports and photos soon.

 

[oszillodrom]

Will be posting reports and photos soon.

Please do.

 

[Shasta_man]

You will see lots of nudibranches of many types in RA on every dive. Not just little ones either.