Siphopteron brunneomarginatum
Order: CEPHALASPIDEA
Superfamily: PHILINOIDEA
Family: Gastropteridae
DISTRIBUTION
Tropical western Pacific.
PHOTO
Cocos, Guam, 5 m; 4 mm long alive; 27 September 1970. [#c23] Photo: C. Carlson & P.J.Hoff.
Siphopteron brunneomarginatum is a uniform yellow with a dark brown parapodial border, dark brown tip to the siphon, dark brown flagellum and a dark brown line across the visceral hump. The yellow of the body is produced by closely spaced opaque yellow specks on a translucent clear background. It is superficiaily similar to S. nigromarginatum but that species is more rounded in shape, and has a much thinner marginal line of black rather than brown. S. brunneomarginatum is much more elongate in shape with the parapodia usually touching or overlapping, while in the much more inflated S. nigromarginatum the parapodia are always separated.
Reference:
• Carlson, C.H. & Hoff, P.J. (1974) The Gastropteridae of Guam with descriptions of four new species (Opisthobranchia: Cephalaspidea). Publications of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, 21(5/6): 345-363.
• Gosliner, T.M. (1989): Revision of the Gastropteridae (Opisthobranchia: Cephalaspidea) with descriptions of a new genus and six new species. The Veliger, 32(4): 333-381.
Rudman, W.B., 2001 (August 1) Siphopteron brunneomarginatum [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/siphbrun
Related messages
Siphopteron brunneomarginatum from South Africa
July 25, 2005
From: Colin Ogden
Hi Bill,
Another nudi I can't find in any of my books. It is very small, and although I had never seen it before we are finding it often now on one of our reefs.
Locality: Sodwana Bay, South Africa, Indian Ocean coast. Depth: 22 metres
Length: 3 mm. July 7 2005. Coral reef. Photographer: Colin Ogden
Thanks for your help
Regards
Colin
scubaco@iafrica.com
Ogden C M, 2005 (Jul 25) Siphopteron brunneomarginatum from South Africa. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14306Dear Colin,
This is not a nudibranch, but it is an opisthobranch. I am pretty sure this is Siphopteron brunneomarginatum, a species at present reported only from the western Pacific. However I found a very similar animal in Tanzania many years ago, which I am posting in a separate message [#14418 ], which is probably the same as well. I should make it clear thought that there is a possibility that it is an unnamed species, but we would need to have a look at its anatomy.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Siphopteron brunneomarginatum from Tanzania
July 25, 2005
From: Bill Rudman
To accompany Colin Ogden's photo from South Africa [message #14306] here is a photo of a similar animal from Tanzania. I suspect they are both colour forms of the western Pacific species Siphopteron brunneomarginatum. Certainly this specimen from Tanzania has the same elongate body and dark markings. It is possible that the Sth African one is a different species again but we would need some anatomical information to be sure.
Locality: Fungu Yasin, Island off Kunduchi Bch, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 30 November,1976. Photo: Bill Rudman
Best wishes
Bill Rudman
billr@seaslugforum.net
Rudman, W.B., 2005 (Jul 25) Siphopteron brunneomarginatum from Tanzania. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/14418Siphopteron brunneomarginatum from Taiwan
May 17, 2002
From: Todd Garthwaite
Hi Bill,
I came across another tiny specimen of what I'm guessing is Siphopteron flavum. The population explosion of Chelidonura amoena is as big as ever, and still holding strong. Naturally, I'd be most grateful if you could help me identify this nudibranch!
Site: 'Nudibranch Alley', (Dragon Cave Bay, N.E. Coast, Taipei County, Taiwan)
Date: 05 April 2002
Depth: 13.9 meters
Temp: 22 degrees C.
Size: approximately 2 - 2.5 mm.
Thanks again!
Todd Garthwaite
(Taipei, Taiwan)
typhoontoddy@yahoo.com
Garthwaite, T., 2002 (May 17) Siphopteron brunneomarginatum from Taiwan. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/6922Dear Todd,
This is Siphopteron brunneomarginatum. It is similar to S. flavum but this species has a brown borders to the parapodia. It is known from Guam, Marshall Ids, and Papua New Guinea, so your find increases the known distribution of this species.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Siphopteron brunneomarginatum from Guam
August 4, 2001
From: C. Carlson & P. J. Hoff
Bill,
Here is a dorsal view of Siphopteron brunneomarginatum. We tried to find a good lateral view but in all cases had the interior projection against a dark background.
Data: c23, 4 mm; Guam, Cocos, 5 m; 27 September 1970.
Clay & Patty
clay.carlson@kuentos.guam.net
Carlson, C. & Hoff, P.J., 2001 (Aug 4) Siphopteron brunneomarginatum from Guam. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/5000Dear Clay & Patty Jo,
Thanks for this photo. It certainly shows the difference between it and S. nigromarginatum very well.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.
