Sea Hare color purple

October 24, 2003
From: Patricia

Could you please let me know if the purple colour released by the sea hare was also used by the Phoenicians for dying purposes?

Many thanks
Patricia

pbeller@sdnhm.org

Beller, P., 2003 (Oct 24) Sea Hare color purple. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11298

Dear Patricia
Tyrian Purple was a 'red' rather than purple dye, first made in Tyre in the eastern Mediterranean 2-3000 years ago in what was probably one of the earliest chemical industries. The dye was obtained from the hypobranchial gland of muricid snails (Murex, Thais spp). The purple ink produced by Sea Hares, which is also reddish, is quite different and not permanent.

You should find references to the dye in good reference books. On a quick search on the web I found a site Dyes in History & Archaeology which has some basic information on Tyrian Purple.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Oct 24). Comment on Sea Hare color purple by Patricia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/11298

Factsheet

Ink glands

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