Gastropterid from southeastern Australia

December 26, 2000
From: John Chuk

Dear Bill,

Here is the second of two species of cephalaspideans I photographed in Port Campbell Harbour, here in Victoria, [Australia] in February 1999. Unfortunately these are not great photographs as all specimens were 4mm in length and fine detail is lacking.

[See separate message for first species]

The second species is bright orange in colour with several small pale purple markings. The posterior border of the cephalic shield is raised into a siphon-like structure the tip of which is pale purple in colour, or almost black in some specimens. Parapodia are visible. Five specimens of this species were found and all were found at 3.5m depth on reef covered with a low growth of calcareous red and filamentous brown algae. I suspect that this species belongs to the family Gastropteridae?

Any help in identifying it would be gratefully appreciated!

John Chuk

jchuk@giant.net.au

Chuk, J., 2000 (Dec 26) Gastropterid from southeastern Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3437

Dear John,
Your animal is indeed a gastropterid, probably a species of Siphopteron, but at this moment I am not sure whether it is an undescribed species or a colour variation of one of the tropical species with a similar colour pattern. I have found this species in many parts of southeastern Australia and the colour pattern is quite variable.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Dec 26). Comment on Gastropterid from southeastern Australia by John Chuk. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3437

Factsheet

Unidentified - Australia and New Zealand

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