Re: Siphopteron michaeli - Feeding?

April 17, 2008
From: Hugues Flodrops

Concerning message #18157:

Dear Bill,
Last time I found Siphopteron michaeli hiding on Padina: brown algae.
This time, I found two others apparently feeding on green algae. Could Caulerpa sertularoides be the species of this algae?

Locality: Etang-Salé, 1metre, Reunion Island, Indian Ocean, 12 April 2007, muddy. Length: 2-3 mm. Photographer: Hugues Flodrops.

These Siphopteron michaeli are quite small (2-3 mm) so I can't see the shape of the teeth, excuse me.
Regards and thanks for your comments.
Hugues.

hugues.flodrops@wanadoo.fr

Flodrops, H., 2008 (Apr 17) Re: Siphopteron michaeli - Feeding?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21532

Dear Hugues,

Thanks for the observation. From the shape of their teeth and the anatomy of their alimentary canal I am sure gastropterids are carnivorous. They are often found in association with certain sponges which led to the belief that they are sponge-feeders, but again their anatomy does not support this and none of their relatives are sponge feeders.

I suspect you are finding this species in algae because their actual food is also living there. My guess is that they feed on small flatworms. If they are eating flatworms we will need to catch them in the act, because flatworms have no indigestible hard parts for us to find in the gut of Siphopteron if we went looking there. Although not the greatest problem facing humanity, I would really love to know what these animals feed on.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Apr 17). Comment on Re: Siphopteron michaeli - Feeding? by Hugues Flodrops. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21532

Factsheet

Siphopteron michaeli

Related messages

  1. Siphopteron michaeli from Reunion Island
    From: Hugues Flodrops, January 30, 2007
  2. Re: Siphopteron michaeli from Reunion Island
    From: Hugues Flodrops, November 14, 2006
  3. Siphopteron michaeli from Reunion Island
    From: Hugues Flodrops, November 7, 2006
  4. Siphopteron not Gastropteron michaeli
    From: Philibert Bidgrain, September 23, 2005
  5. Gastropteron michaeli from Reunion Is., Indian Ocean
    From: P. Bidgrain, September 19, 2005

Show factsheet and all related messages