Siphopteron makisig Ong & Gosliner in Ong, Hallas & Gosliner, 2017

Siphopterons are strange little slugs belonging to the cephalaspidean family Gastropteridae. The trivial name makisig is a Tagalog word from the Philippines, meaning "handsome" or "elegant." It beautifully reflects the striking and vibrant appearance of the sea slug.

S. makisig is white with yellow and orange parapodial and headshield margins. It has an orange ring surrounding the short posterior extension of mantle. The posterior end of the headshield is elongate and the foot has a medial yellow line.

In Gordon's photo we can clearly see an egg ribbon being formed by each member of the mating pair after copulation.

This species has a unique and rather dramatic mating ritual practicing 'traumatic insemination,' where it stabs its partner between the eyes with a syringe-like appendage to deliver prostate fluid. This behavior is thought to influence the partner's central nervous system, potentially increasing the slug's reproductive success.

Reference:

Ong E., Hallas J.M. & Gosliner T.M. (2017). Like a bat out of heaven: the phylogeny and diversity of the bat-winged slugs (Heterobranchia: Gastropteridae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 180(4): 755-789.

My diving career started in the cold lakes of northern Wisconsin during summer camp in 1964. I have now logged over 3000 dives. My passion for this hobby/sport kicked into high gear around 2006 when I got my first underwater camera and went to Taveuni, Fiji. It was a Canon SD 550 point and shoot. Certainly limited for wide angle, but it took amazing pictures of Nudibranchs! It ignited an obsession for underwater photography and nudi hunting that has taken me to all the corners of the Coral Triangle.

I retired and moved to the Philippines in 2008 to avoid those long international flights and have been blessed to be here for the last 14 years. I chose the island of Negros Oriental for many reasons, but mostly for the easy access to great macro/critter photography. Also being the frogfish capital was the bonus round. And the 600 plus species of nudibranchs that call it home. Being in the center of the best diving on planet earth is a dream come true.

So, as they say " I'm living the life".

Webmaster's Notes:

Gordon certainly has a knack for locating and photographing one of the most difficult sea slug species (Stiliger) to find.
A prevous Stilger submission by Gordon which morphed into a BOW was posted as Stiliger sp.5. Interesting enough, Stiliger sp. 5 was also photographed at Romblon, Philippines!
Let's see, what is my travel agent's number?

Send Gordon email at gtillen@mac.com