This species has been observed on Reunion and Mauritius Islands
Order :
Cephalaspidea
Superfamily : Philinoidea
Family : Gastropteridae
Distribution :
Reunion and Maritius islands
Maximal size : 5 mm
Abundance : Seldom on the rocky coast and the reef flat zone
Species characteristics : The body was uniformly yellow-orange with large maroon-brown spots scattered over the surface of the head shield, posterior shield, and dorsal and ventral surfaces of the foot.
The head shield is roughly triangular in shape, broadest anteriorly. Its posterior end is involuted to form a siphon with a thin, cylindrical medial crest
There is one large elongate spot in the dorsal midline of the posterior foot
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Showing species characteristics... |
Photo Philibert Bidgrain
Reunion, Etang salé les bains, on a rocky coast, 7 January 2007, size : 5 mm.
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See more about : Sightening and mating periods
See more about : Sihopteron michaeli variability in Southwest Indian ocean
Remarks :
Identification confirmed by Terry Gosliner and Bill Rudman
Synonymous : (according Worms)
- Gastropteron michaeli Gosliner & Williams, 1988
Bibliographic data :
Material examined by Terry Gosliner and Gary Williams ( see references/publications).
Holotype, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CASIZ 063270, 2 km South of St Gilles, Reunion Island, Indian Ocean, under rocks on dead coral reef, 2 m depth, 28 July 1977, Michael L. Gosliner
Paratype, one specimen, CASIZ 063271, 2 km South of St. Gilles, Reunion Island, under rocks on dead coral reef, 2 m depth, 28 July 1977, M. L. Gosliner
Other external morphology characteristics
According to Terry Gosliner : It is known only from "La Reunion" but we found a specimen in Mauritius... It is quite common in shallow water under coral heads, inside the barrier reef
The living animals were 3 to 5 mm in length
The head shield is roughly triangular in shape, broadest anteriorly. Its posterior end is involuted to form a siphon with a thin, cylindrical medial crest
The posterior shield is ovoid and elongate, without a flagellum or auxiliary appendages
The foot is not distinctly separated from the parapodia.
References :
Bill Rudman Seaslug site : Sea Slug Forum : Siphopteron michaeli
Nudipixel Siphopteron michaeli
Publications :
Gosliner, T & Williams, G.C. (1988) A new species of gastropteron (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) from Reunion island, Indian Ocean. The veliger 30(3) : 315-318
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. (Figs 1-32)
Other photos of Siphopteron michaeli :
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Philibert Bidgrain
Reunion, Etang salé les bains, sur la côte rocheuse, 7 janvier 2007, taille : 5 mm
Absence of large brown-brown spots on the underside of the foot on this specimen |
Philibert Bidgrain
A Mating behavior...
Reunion, La Saline lagoon, less 1 m, 13 March 2010, size : 3 mm
You can see the siphon with a thin, cylindrical medial crest of the posterior end of the head shield... for two specimens...
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Terry Gosliner
Drawing of living animal in :
Gosliner, T & Williams, G.C. (1988) A new species of gastropteron (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) from Reunion island, Indian Ocean. The veliger 30(3) : 315-318 |
Hugues Flodrops
Reunion, Plage de l'hermitage at Saint Gilles, 29 October 2006, size 3 mm.
Crawling on Padina sp
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Christophe Cadet
Reunion, Etang salé lagoon, less 1 m, 9 October 2009, size 6 mm
The head shield is roughly triangular in shape, broadest anteriorly. Its posterior end is involuted to form a siphon (a) with a thin, cylindrical medial crest |
Maurice Jay
Reunion, Grand-fond lagoon (18 March 1985)
Size : 3 mm
There is one large elongate spot in the dorsal midline of the posterior foot |
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Sébastien Vasquez
Reunion, Etang salé on the rocky coast less 1 m, 9 December 2015
The body was uniformly yellow-orange with large blue spots scattered over the surface of the head shield..
A matting behavior ??? . |
More photos from Indian Ocean
See more about : Sihopteron michaeli variability in Southwest Indian ocean
Reunion, 4 to 5 Siphopteron michaeli, at Etang salé, by Hugues Flodrops
Reunion, a small Siphopteron michaeli, at Saint Paul, by Sully Bachel
Reunion, two Siphopteron michaeli under a rock, at Trou d'eau, by Philibert Bidgrain
Mauritius, the first Siphopteron michaeli from Mauritius, at Flic en Flac, by Eva Fontaine
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