Mottled sea hare (Aplysia fasciata)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Aplysia fasciata
- Common name
- Mottled sea hare
- Category
- Molluscs
- Family
- Aplysiidae
- Genus
- Aplysia
- Size
- 20–40 cm
- Depth
- 1–20 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- seagrass, rocky
- Behaviours
- solitary, herbivorous
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Aplysia fasciata reaches 40 cm, one of the largest Mediterranean opisthobranchs. Soft dark-brown body edged in pink or purple, with large leafy parapodia recalling hare ears. Herbivore, grazes red algae and Ulva. Remarkable defensive mechanism: releases purple ink when disturbed. Common in Mediterranean seagrass and coastal algae especially in spring, from 1 to 20 m.
Photo of Mottled sea hare
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Mottled sea hare?
- Mottled sea hare (Aplysia fasciata) reaches 20–40 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Mottled sea hare?
- Mottled sea hare is found between 1–20 m deep.
- Is the Mottled sea hare dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Mottled sea hare?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Mottled sea hare?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Aplysia
Other species in the family Aplysiidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 138755)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5191263)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia