What Preys on Sea Hares?

March 7, 2000
From: Claire

I have been researching sea hares for a web page I am creating. Your site has been extremely the helpful in this process. Thanks. One area I have had a hard time researching is the predators of sea hares. Any insight into this area?
Claire.

Mushbrum@excite.com

Dear Claire,
If you can get hold of a copy of Johnson & Willow's review of Defense in Sea Hares which I noted last year, there is a section on predators. One difficulty is knowing which animals are serious, regular predators, and which have eaten a Sea Hare as a once-off 'experiment' or as the result of a chance meeting. In their paper they suggest sort out a few predators which have Sea Hares as a majot part of their diet. They include a large green sea anemone Anthopleura xanthogrammica, the aglajid navanax inermis, the bailer shell Melo amphora and the giant starfish Coscinasterias calamaria. But you should have a look at the paper for details about which species are eaten etc.

You should also be aware that the eggs are also a useful food item as are metamorphosing larvae about to settle out of the plankton.

Let us know when you complete your website Claire, I would like to have a look.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Mar 7). Comment on What Preys on Sea Hares? by Claire. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2022

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