Sagaminopteron nigropunctatum
Philippines · Indo Pacific - South China Sea
- Size
- 3–10 mm · max 13 mm
- Depth
- 8–13 m
- Native range
- Indo-West Pacific, from Réunion and Tanzania to Japan, Guam (type locality), Palau and Fiji.
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Description
A small headshield slug (Gastropteridae) always found on grey Dysidea sponges, on which it feeds and is almost perfectly camouflaged. Unlike most gastropterids it has reduced parapodia and is rarely seen swimming.
Share link: https://seaslugs.org.il/species/sagaminopteron-nigropunctatum-phillipines-indo-pacific-south-china-sea/
Identification
Translucent grey to pale pinkish or cream, finely speckled with black and dotted with light grey to cream pustules. Two orange spots at the front corners of the head shield; orange edging on the siphon, flagellum and parapodial margins.
Similar species
Sagaminopteron bilealbum, which lives on another Dysidea, lacks the black speckling and orange markings and has larger parapodia.
Habitat & diet
Habitat
Coral reefs, on Dysidea sponges; recorded at about 8–13 m.
Food
Sponges of the genus Dysidea, notably D. granulosa.
