How many Sea Hare species are there?

May 24, 2002
From: Nathan Loomer

How many species are there of sea hares?
Nathan

cjeske@oasisol.com

Loomer, N., 2002 (May 24) How many Sea Hare species are there?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7017

Dear Nathan,
Most Sea Hares belong in the genus Aplysia. The last major revision of the genus Aplysia (Eales, 1960) recognised 35 species of Aplysia but at least 200 names have been given to Sea Hares worldwide. However, we have no idea how many of those names are superfluous. I am afraid many species have been described from preserved animals, often based on one or two specimens, so the validity of many names is questionable, especially when it seems that many species have a worldwide distribution. Go to the List of Species to see what species of Sea Hare are discussed on the Forum. There are about 25 species on the list and I suspect that once the aplysiids have been better studied, there may only be 10 or so extra species to add to the list. In brief, I suspect the number of species of Sea Hares worldwide would be nearer to 50 than 100.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (May 24). Comment on How many Sea Hare species are there? by Nathan Loomer. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7017

Factsheet

What are Sea Hares?

Related messages

  1. Seahare from Singapore
    From: Ron Yeo, March 27, 2007
  2. Mystery 'thing' from southern New South Wales.
    From: John Ringk, January 12, 2007
  3. Are sea slugs poisonous?
    From: Tess, January 5, 2007
  4. Sea Hare in aquarium - possible trauma
    From: Jose Rodriguez, December 14, 2006
  5. Sea Hare from Mexico
    From: Valerie Simpson, June 7, 2006
  6. Sea Hare in aquarium
    From: Dominic Chen, March 25, 2006
  7. Re: Sea hares bioprospecting
    From: Tom Hinchey, March 6, 2006
  8. Re: Sea hares bioprospecting
    From: Skip Pierce, March 1, 2006
  9. Sea hares bioprospecting
    From: Tom Hinchey, February 28, 2006
  10. California Freshwater Slug?
    From: Jason Sabo, July 25, 2005
  11. Owning my very own Aplysia
    From: Aaran Kelley, September 3, 2002
  12. Aplysia siphon
    From: Angie Berg, June 15, 2002
  13. Seahares? in Florida
    From: Kathy, June 1, 2002
  14. Reddish brown blob from California
    From: Jeanne Frederick, May 30, 2002
  15. Ancestors of Aplysia
    From: Stephen Hoskins, May 28, 2002
  16. What do sea slugs eat?
    From: Bill Ballard, May 28, 2002
  17. Sea Hare from Wales
    From: Warren Fairclough, April 3, 2002
  18. Aplysia and memory?
    From: Jay, November 28, 2001
  19. What do Sea Hares eat?
    From: Danny, July 1, 2001
  20. Need info about memory experiment on Aplysia
    From: G.Cormier, September 23, 1999
  21. Sea Hares from the Marianas Islands
    From: Gary Hewitt, July 28, 1999
  22. Re: Info on Sea Hares
    From: Joel Beasley, May 15, 1999
  23. Info on Sea Hares
    From: Joel Beasley, May 14, 1999
  24. Medical Uses of Sea Slugs
    From: Jonathan Choi, May 13, 1999
  25. Sea Hares? from Jervis Bay, New South Wales
    From: Terese and Ngaere, April 28, 1999
  26. Nudibranch
    From: Dana Cianfrani, April 13, 1999
  27. Information on Aplysia in Chile
    From: Soledad De La Piedra, March 30, 1999
  28. Sea Hare research
    From: Cary Rogers, February 17, 1999
  29. Re: Sea Slugs in Florida
    From: Bob Pellegrino, February 15, 1999
  30. Sea Slugs in Florida
    From: Bob Pellegrino, February 11, 1999
  31. Where do I buy Sea Hares?
    From: Dallas Carlon, January 12, 1999
  32. We need information on Sea Slugs (Hares)
    From: Jim Fitzpatrick, December 18, 1998
  33. Re: NIH-Aplysia Resource Facility
    From: Tom Capo, December 8, 1998
  34. Re: NIH-Aplysia Resource Facility
    From: Tom Capo, December 6, 1998
  35. Want to buy Sea Hares!
    From: Bill Rudman, December 5, 1998
  36. I need specimens of Aplysia cervina
    From: Sara Black Banks, November 20, 1998
  37. Sea Hares
    From: Sara Loeffler, September 9, 1998
  38. Sea slug or something else?
    From: Sandi, August 15, 1998
  39. Re: How many eggs can a sea hare lay
    From: Kathy Potter, June 2, 1998
  40. How many eggs can a sea hare lay (2)
    From: Teri Taylor, June 2, 1998
  41. Re: How many eggs can a sea hare lay (2)
    From: Teri Taylor, June 2, 1998
  42. How many eggs can a sea hare lay
    From: Kathy Potter, June 1, 1998
  43. Re: Sea Hares - what are they?
    From: Rhiana N. VanDoren, May 24, 1998
  44. Sea Hares - what are they?
    From: Rhiana N. VanDoren, April 14, 1998

Show factsheet and all related messages