Aplysia morio near St. Petersburg, Florida

June 21, 2006
From: Maria D'Oleo

Hi there:
I was walking on the beach this evening during low tide and came across five weird-looking, black, sea animals. One of them was letting out a purple ink when softly poked. I wanted to throw them back in the water and help them live, but I wasn't sure if their being at the shore was a natural occurrence of their life cycle. Most of us curious observers agreed they were some type of slug. I came home and thanks to your website now know that what I saw was the uncommon black Sea Hare Aplysia morio. After reading your site, I think the ones I saw were pretty young due to their size. I also learned the species resides mostly in the Atlantic Ocean. I have three questions: Is this type of Sea Hare common in the Gulf of Mexico as well? Tropical Storm Alberto visited our area last week. Could this hurricane have had influence on their relocation? Also, now that I know it's safe to handle them and read about mass mortality, should we help them back in the water next time if they're still alive on shore? What I saw didn't look like mass mortality. Thanks for your wonderful website! Looking forward to your answer.

Locality: Madeira Beach, at the shoreline, Florida, United States, Gulf of Mexico, 18 June 2006. Length: Sizes ranged from 15 to 25 cm long by 8 to 10 cm wide.

Maria D'Oleo

mdoleo@verizon.net

D'Oleo, M., 2006 (Jun 21) Aplysia morio near St. Petersburg, Florida. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16913

Dear Maria,
Yes Aplysia morio is found in the Gulf of Mexico as well. Usually Sea Hares wash up on beaches like this after storms. They often live just off shore in sea grass and algae beds and when storm waves disturb the bottom these slugs are unable to 'hold on' and so are washed ashore. If the populations are large enough then we get 'mass mortality' events. Concerning putting them back into the sea - it certainly doesn't do any harm, but often if they wash up on a beach, throwing them back in from shore doesn't get them out of the wave zone, so within a few minutes they are washing up again. Unless you are able to return them to a  'safe' place, which may be 100 yards off shore, or a sheltered canal, it's probably best just to let nature takes its course.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Jun 21). Comment on Aplysia morio near St. Petersburg, Florida by Maria D'Oleo. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16913

Factsheet

Aplysia morio

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