Spotted sea hare (Aplysia dactylomela)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Aplysia dactylomela
- Common name
- Spotted sea hare
- Category
- Molluscs
- Family
- Aplysiidae
- Genus
- Aplysia
- Size
- 20–40 cm
- Depth
- 0–20 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- seagrass, rocky
- Behaviours
- herbivorous
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean, Asian Pacific, Eastern Pacific
Description
Aplysia dactylomela reaches 40 cm, one of the largest tropical opisthobranchs. Soft beige to olive-green body densely speckled with large white-ringed black ocelli, large leafy parapodia. Herbivore, grazes Caribbean algae. Classic Aplysia defense: releases a purple ink cloud when disturbed. Invasive in the eastern Mediterranean since the 2000s. Common in shallow bottoms from 0 to 20 m.
Photo of Spotted sea hare
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Spotted sea hare?
- Spotted sea hare (Aplysia dactylomela) reaches 20–40 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Spotted sea hare?
- Spotted sea hare is found between 0–20 m deep.
- Is the Spotted sea hare dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Spotted sea hare?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Spotted sea hare?
- Found in: Caribbean, East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean, Asian Pacific, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Aplysia
Other species in the family Aplysiidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 138753)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5191262)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia