Re: Mystery from Hawaii

August 26, 2001
From: Scott Johnson

Hi Bill,
I think David Kearns' mystery is a Siphopteron as you suggest. Here is a shot from Hawaii of what I've been calling Siphopteron quadrispinosum. These were part of a similar population bloom observed in the late 70s.

Scott

johnson@kmr.ll.mit.edu

Dear Scott,
What an interesting animal. My only doubt about it being a gastropterid was David's mention of a single rhinophore dividing in two. Now I have seen your photo I can see his description was pretty accurate - especially for something the size of a grain of rice.

Terry Gosliner doesn't mention this unusual double 'siphon' in his description and his colour photo, which from its colour must be from Hawaii, seems to have a single siphon, so it will have to remain another little mystery until someone can have a look at the anatomy of an animal with a bifid siphon.
Thanks again,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Aug 26). Comment on Re: Mystery from Hawaii by Scott Johnson. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5151

Factsheet

Siphopteron quadrispinosum

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