General Description

Body shape slug-like with gill structures internal. Pattern includes shades or colours of red, brown and/or green. Four horns on the head (two tentacles and two rhinophores). Shell reduced to a thin plate covered by flaps of skin (mantle). Up to 5 cm long.

Biology

Sea Hares defend themselves by releasing purple ink, in a similar way to an escaping octopus or squid. The composition of this ink is unknown, but it is probably toxic or at least tastes bad. They are herbivores, eating different types of weed. This species is in the same genus as the largest known opisthobranch, Aplysia vaccaria, which grows up to 90 cm long, weighs up to 14 kg and lives in Californian waters. Additional species of sea hares occur in the Bass Strait area, but some of their identities have yet to be confirmed.

Distribution

Tropical and temperate oceans, including Australia.

Habitat

Among seaweed and seagrass, to depth of 50 m.

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