Siphopteron michaeli ( Gosliner & Williams, 1988 )

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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

siphopteron michaeli
Showing species characteristics...

Photo Philibert Bidgrain
Reunion, Etang salé les bains, on a rocky coast, 7 January 2007, size : 5 mm.

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 :

 

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...

 

siphopteron michaeli

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

Siphopteron michaeli

 Siphopteron michaeli

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

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