Siphopteron sp. 1? from Okinawa

July 27, 1999
From: Bob Bolland


Hi Bill,

After viewing Atsushi Ono's recent posting of his Karama gastropterids, I thought I'd send in one from Okinawa. This one appears to be close to his Siphopteron sp. #1, but without the orange pigmentation.

Scans from two separate photos of the same animal, the second is a bit of detail of the siphon; both photos are poor in quality but the approx. 3mm size wasn't conducive to my photography techniques.

Data:
Seragaki, Okinawa / 4 May 1997 / from 55m / size: approx. 3mm / water temp. 21.2C

The animal was found as a collaterally-collected specimen ... later at home while inspecting a zip-loc bag of misc. cnidaria, algae, coral rubble and sand, I found the tiny animal. It swam about in the photo tank by actively flapping its parapodia.

All the best,

Bob.

bolland@imicom.or.jp

Bolland, R.F., 1999 (Jul 27) Siphopteron sp. 1? from Okinawa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1119

Dear Bob,
I guess the speckled white appearance of Atsushi's Siphopteron sp. 1 is very similar to yours, but my first guess would have been his Siphopteron sp. 2. I guess it depends on whether his Siphopteron sp. 2. is speckled, as in Siphopteron sp. 1, or a much more uniform white?

The close-up of the siphon makes me wonder whether it should be considered a species of Gastropteron as I can't see any indication of the siphonal crest considered characteristic of the genus Siphopteron.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (Jul 27). Comment on Siphopteron sp. 1? from Okinawa by Bob Bolland. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1119

Factsheet

Siphopteron sp. 1.

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    From: Atsushi Ono, July 26, 1999
  4. Information on Siphopteron
    From: Erwin Koehler, July 26, 1999

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