Unidentified Sea Slug from Spain

July 18, 2007
From: David Gilbert

Hello Bill ,
I wonder if you could help please.Whilst on holiday in Spain i spotted these creatures.They were slowly swimming on the surface or seemed to be feeding right on the edge of a river.They were between 3 and 6" long and moved gracefully. None of the locals knew what they were! Any information or ID would be appreciated.

Locality: Puerto Banus , Marbella, Surface, Spain, Mediterranean, 24 May 2007, River which drained into the Med.. Length: 5 inches. Photographer: David Gilbert.

Regards,
David Gilbert

thegilbertsuk@aol.com

Gilbert, D.L., 2007 (Jul 18) Unidentified Sea Slug from Spain. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20134

Dear David,
This is a Sea Hare, and the one you are most likely to find in Spain, swimming like this, is Aplysia fasciata. If you look at the earlier messages on this species you will see it is found all along the northern Mediterranean coast, and quite a few of the messages suggest the locals have never seen them - I guess it's because the holidaying visitors have more time to wander along enjoying the sights.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Jul 18). Comment on Unidentified Sea Slug from Spain by David Gilbert. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/20134

Factsheet

Aplysia fasciata

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