This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the functionality of our site. For more detailed information about the types of cookies we use and how we protect your privacy, please visit our Privacy Information page.

×

Cookie Settings

This website uses different types of cookies to enhance your experience. Please select your preferences below:

Aplysia dactylomela
Aplysia dactylomela Rang, 1828
Black spotted seahare
Aplysia dactylomela
photo by Harasti, David

Family:  Aplysiidae (sea hares)
Max. size:  41 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,400.0 g; max. reported age: 1 years
Environment:  benthic; marine; depth range 0 - 20 m
Distribution:  Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Sea hares have annual life cycles (Ref. 126605). Common on tidal platforms of mixed sand and rock; actively crawling in tide pools at night and in crevices and under rocks during the day (Ref. 866). Grazes on various types of green algae (Ref. 844). Found in warm seas (Ref. 822). Known from depths of 0 to 20 m (Ref. 7727); from low intertidal to immediate subtidal on alga-covered reefs (Ref. 337). Ejecting ink as a predator deterrence and to send alarm signals to conspecifics, but not all spotted sea hares have ink (Ref. 84419). Ink components are based on the chemical properties of their diet (Ref. 84420). Ascorhynchus sp. found parasitic on the gills of this nudibranch (Ref. 121217).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

Source and more info: www.sealifebase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.