Ragged Sea Hares on the beach

August 28, 2006
From: Cathy Zollo

I am a reporter for the Sarasota (Florida, USA) paper, and I did a story the other day about hundreds of ragged sea hares [Bursatella leachii] coming up on the beach and spewing this purple ink.
 
Locality: Anna Maria Island, about 15 miles south of St. Petersburg, Florida, Florida, USA, Gulf of Mexico, 22 August 2006, sandy beach. Length: small cucumber

Locals say they've never seen them do this (come up on the beach or spew the ink), but it's important to note that we have a moderate to severe red tide bloom offshore as well as a Trichodesmium bloom. Scientists here say they aren't sure about this, but they think the critters were trying to get away from the red tide. I've seen on the Web where other sea slug species intentionally come up on the beach, so it's a bit confusing.

I would appreciate any thoughts, suggestions or information (or pointing elsewhere for the answer) about what might have been going on so I can share this with my readers. I would, of course, give you guys credit for the info.
Thanks,
Cathy Zollo

cathy.zollo@heraldtribune.com

Zollo, C., 2006 (Aug 28) Ragged Sea Hares on the beach. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17627

Dear Cathy,
Bursatella leachii [Ragged sea hare] is found worldwide and it is certainly one species which at times is found washed ashore like this in large numbers. If you go to the General Topics List [in Menu at top left of page] you will find a whole section on Sea Hares. I would suggest you have a look at the Mass Mortality page which has background information on this phenomenon and links to many examples which have been reported on the Forum. You will see there that there does seem to be a simple cause and effect answer to these strandings, other than that a whole generation has probably reached old age and any adverse happening may tip the balance towards death.

Have a look at the page on their purple ink  - although it reminds us of squid ink, it does not seem to have any defensive function and may just be a rather spectacular waste product.

Hope you find enough information for your readers. We have quite a few messages from the good people of Florida reporting swarming and swimming in two of your local sea hares, Aplysia brasiliana and A. morio.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Aug 28). Comment on Ragged Sea Hares on the beach by Cathy Zollo. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/17627

Factsheet

Bursatella leachii

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