Siphopteron tigrinum

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Cephalaspidea
Family: Gastropteridae
Genus: Siphopteron
Species: Siphopteron tigrinum

Siphopteron tigrinum is a tiny headshield slug from the family Gastropteridae, a group of cephalaspideans rather than true nudibranchs.

Like other Siphopteron, it is only a few millimetres long, with wing-like flaps along its sides and a short siphon at the rear. Gastropterids can flap these wings to swim short distances when disturbed.

In the Philippines it lives on shallow sandy and rubble areas and takes a very close look to spot. Many Siphopteron are found on or near algae on the sand.

This is a challenge even for experienced macro shooters. Settle on the sand a little way off, move slowly and use a diopter or super macro setup to fill the frame.

It appears on page 312 of Nudibranchs of the Philippines.