Striated sea hare (Stylocheilus striatus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Stylocheilus striatus
- Common name
- Striated sea hare
- Category
- Molluscs
- Family
- Aplysiidae
- Genus
- Stylocheilus
- Size
- 3–6 cm
- Depth
- 1–15 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- seagrass-meadow, rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- benthic, slow-mover
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Stylocheilus striatus reaches 6 cm. Small opisthobranch mollusk (Aplysiidae) circumtropical Indo-Pacific and western Atlantic with elongated beige-yellow to olive-green body with characteristic fine parallel brown longitudinal lines (hence striatus), numerous small erect dorsal papillae, short rhinophores. Lives from 1 to 15 m on seagrass meadows and algae of tropical reefs. Herbivore of cyanobacteria and filamentous algae. Forms swarms during algal blooms. Accessible macro photo subject for beginners.
Photo of Striated sea hare
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Striated sea hare?
- Striated sea hare (Stylocheilus striatus) reaches 3–6 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Striated sea hare?
- Striated sea hare is found between 1–15 m deep.
- Is the Striated sea hare dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Striated sea hare?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Striated sea hare?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the family Aplysiidae
- Aplysia fasciata - Mottled sea hare
- Aplysia dactylomela - Spotted sea hare
- Aplysia punctata - Spotted sea hare
- Bursatella leachii - Leach's Sea Hare
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 224662)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 4359320)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia