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/1119Dear 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.
Related messages
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Colour form of Siphopteron sp. 1
From: Atsushi Ono, December 21, 1999 -
Another photo of Siphopteron sp. 1.
From: Atsushi Ono, July 28, 1999 -
Siphopteron sp. from Kerama Island
From: Atsushi Ono, July 26, 1999 -
Information on Siphopteron
From: Erwin Koehler, July 26, 1999
