Higher classification Aplysia | Superfamily Aplysioidea Genus Aplysia Rank Species | |
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Similar Aplysia, Molluscs, Aplysia fasciata, Aplysia punctata, Gastropods | ||
Weirdest sea creature the sea hare aplysia depilans
Aplysia depilans, the "depilatory sea hare", is a species of sea hare or sea slug, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Aplysiidae. Its common name refers to the belief of fishermen that it caused hair loss.
Contents
- Weirdest sea creature the sea hare aplysia depilans
- Sea hare aplysia depilans
- Distribution
- Description
- Behavior
- References
Sea hare aplysia depilans
Distribution
This sea hare occurs in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. It can be found mostly in shallow water of about 1.5 to 10 m. It avoids the intertidal zone because the animals cannot absorb atmospheric oxygen and so die after stranding relatively quickly. Occasionally some are trapped in tide pools at low tide. The adults feed primarily on algae of the genus Ulva, especially sea lettuce Ulva lactuca. During the planktonic phase of life they eat single-celled phytoplankton.
Description
Individuals can grow up to 40 cm long and weighs up to 380 g. Their skin is dark brown to reddish brown, with white to light brown blotches. It has a yellow inner shell that is thinner, flatter and more poorly calcified than other sea hares and measures about 1.5 cm long.
Behavior
When threatened they emit a white or purple ink. Aplysia depilans are one of the seven species of the genus which are known to swim occasionally rather than crawl. Although hermaphrodites, they cannot self-fertilize and require a partner.
