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Description
Siphopteron is a genus of tiny gastropterid sea slugs (family Gastropteridae, order Cephalaspidea); they are not true nudibranchs. The species are very small, usually only a few millimetres long, and live in tropical Indo-Pacific waters; for example S. quadrispinosum has been recorded from Hawaii, Japan, Queensland and the Red Sea. They are typically found in shallow reef settings, and Wikipedia reports them on macroalgae and seagrasses. The diet of S. quadrispinosum is unknown.
Identification
The body has a head shield with a prominent anterior siphon, parapodia that fold over the back, a posterior shield with a thin flagellum, and a visible gill. The siphon carries a ridge. S. quadrispinosum is yellow with orange-red on the siphon and flagellum; some individuals move jerkily and others smoothly.
Species in this genus (1)
Share link: https://seaslugs.org.il/genus/Siphopteron/