Sea Hares in Florida (2)

February 27, 2001
From: Krystal

Hello,
I am often in the ocean. However, today when I visited the beach, for the first time I found these jellyfish-like cratures washing up on the shore. I live on the east coast of south Forida. After closer observation I came to the conclusion that the animals were in fact sea slugs. They varied in size and were dark brown. When I picked one up it shot out purple die or ink on my hand. Also they had sort of wings with which they swam with, and looking closer I noticed two pin dot eyes and the bottom was like that of a snail or slug. I have never seen one like this here before and i was wondering if you can confirm my observation.
Thanks.
Krystal

Hello, again I've looked through your species list and found that the sea slug or sea hare that i found today was in fact the aplysia brasiliana. I found that perhaps the many hares that were washing ashore were old and dying, but i saved two small ones( who may be old also) and placed them in my saltwater fish tank. If you'd like to know I can keep you updated on there life. I enjoyed you infomative website on sea slugs keep up the good work!
Krystal

skavolley@aol.com

Krystal, 2001 (Feb 27) Sea Hares in Florida (2). [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3870

Dear Krystal,
I have put both your messages together. I had just finished a reply to your first message suggesting it was Aplysia brasiliana when your second message arrived confirmimg my identification. Glad to be of help. It would certainly be interesting to hear what your two small animals do in the aquarium. I see from Dana's message and Talia's message that you seem to be having a 'Mass mortality event' in Florida at the moment.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Note added March 9, 2001: This is A. morio not A. brasiliana. See message. A. morio is an uniform dark brown or black while A. brasiliana has a mottled colour pattern of dark and light brown.

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Feb 27). Comment on Sea Hares in Florida (2) by Krystal. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3870

Factsheet

Aplysia morio

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