Gastropteron pacificum
Bergh, 1894

Order: CEPHALASPIDEA
Superfamily: PHILINOIDEA
Family: Gastropteridae

DISTRIBUTION

West coast of North America from Alaska to Gulf of California.

PHOTO

Howe Sound, near Vancouver, British Columbia, [Canada]. Appprox 2 cm. long. Photo: Marli Wakeling.

Translucent cream with pinkish red specks, this cephalaspid opisthobranch, like all members of the Gastropteridae, is able to swim quite vigorously by flapping its greatly enlarged parapodial flaps. These parapodia are lateral extensions of the foot. Behrens (1991) records this species from the intertidal to about 1400 feet [approx 500m].

Reference:
• Bergh, R. (1894). Reports on the dredging operations off the west coast of central America to the Galapagos, to the west coast of Mexico, and in the Gulf of California, in charge of Alexander Agassiz, carried on by the U.S. Fish Commission Steamer "Albatross", during 1891, Lieut. Commander Z.L. Tanner, U.S.N., Commanding. Part 13. Die Opsthobranchien. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 25(10): 125-233

Authorship details
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (February 18) Gastropteron pacificum Bergh, 1894. [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet/gastpaci

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