Sea Hares and Inking

March 22, 2001
From: Melanie

Thank you for your reply concerning sea hares and burrowing. Now, I have a question about the use of ink by sea hares. Generally it is believed that sea hares dispel ink as a defensive mechanism. However, I have read several papers that question this proposing it may just be a warning, using a foul tasting mucous that they extrude as their primary defense. One of the papers noted how when sea hares were first approached and grabbed by sea anemones as prey, they did not exude their ink. Only upon more tactile pressure did they ink. If you could provide any information on sea hares and inking I would greatly appreciate it. We are in the middle of setting up an exhibit on inking via various molluscs here at the Mote Marine Lab in Sarastoa, Florida, USA.
Thanks for all your help.
Cheers,
Melanie

pjtmcape@aol.com

Melanie, 2001 (Mar 22) Sea Hares and Inking. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3980

Dear Melanie,
If you have a look at the top of this page I have put your message on, you will find some links to more information on the subject. Also have a look at the messages below yours on this page, and on the other pages referred to, as they also contain more information and references. Basically I don't think there is any good evidence that inking is a defensive strategy in Sea Hares. I think the superficial similarity between their ink and that of octopuses led to this idea, but as they can neither hide in it or run away quickly, the similarity with octopuses isn't very sustainable on close examination.

Your question on burrowing turned out to be quite useful as it has led to an interesting observation by Don Barclay that the tropical Sea Hare Dolabella auricularia does indeed burrow.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Mar 22). Comment on Sea Hares and Inking by Melanie. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/3980

Factsheet

Ink glands

Related messages

  1. Is Sea Hare ink poisonous to fish?
    From: Nicole Chilson, January 15, 2007
  2. How to make dye from the Sea Hare ink.
    From: Ralph Bowen, August 3, 2006
  3. Dolabrifera dolabrifera - Dissection diagram for ink gland?
    From: Kathryn Clark, June 17, 2006
  4. Aplysia californica - ink
    From: Malvina Papanastasiou, March 23, 2006
  5. Separating Ink Components of Aplysia dactylometa?
    From: Scott Schwartz, March 6, 2006
  6. Re: Inking in Aplysia
    From: lorrie creach, October 24, 2005
  7. Pharmacokinetic peptides in Dolabella auricularia
    From: Sallie Dugan, July 29, 2004
  8. Sea Hare color purple
    From: Patricia, October 24, 2003
  9. Allergic to Sea Hare Ink?
    From: Martin Masters, August 13, 2003
  10. Do frightened Aplysia secrete ink involuntarily?
    From: Dr. Stephen Hoskins, September 24, 2002
  11. Re: Inking in Aplysia
    From: Edwin Cruz-Rivera, June 27, 2002
  12. Re: Inking in Aplysia
    From: Dr.Stephen R Hoskins, June 26, 2002
  13. Re: Effect of secretions on Aplysia
    From: Cathryn Clarke, June 26, 2002
  14. Effect of secretions on Aplysia
    From: Stephen Hoskins, June 22, 2002
  15. Ink Glands in Octopus and Sea Hares
    From: Nadine Schoene, March 21, 2002
  16. Sea Hare Self Defense
    From: Tina Paget, February 21, 2001
  17. Siphon Withdrawal Reflex in Sea Hares
    From: Steve Potts, December 15, 2000
  18. Tyrian Purple
    From: Mary Townsend, August 28, 2000
  19. Turtles eating Sea Hares
    From: Michael D. Miller, May 5, 2000
  20. What Preys on Sea Hares?
    From: Claire, March 7, 2000
  21. Slugs that squirt ink
    From: Orso Angulo Campillo, November 25, 1999
  22. A new review of Sea Hare defence mechanisms
    From: Bill Rudman., August 14, 1999
  23. Re: Opaline Gland
    From: Assaf Zvuloni , June 28, 1999
  24. Re: Sea Hares - attack and defence
    From: Assaf Zvuloni, June 23, 1999
  25. Sea Hares - chemical defence
    From: Tom Nolen, February 22, 1999
  26. palatability of sea hares: personal experience
    From: Patrick Krug, Ph.D., September 9, 1998
  27. Re: Sea Hares - attack & defence
    From: Conxita Avila, May 19, 1998
  28. Re: Sea Hares - attack & defence
    From: P.M. Johnson, April 21, 1998
  29. Sea Hares - attack & defence
    From: P.M. Johnson, April 17, 1998

Show factsheet and all related messages