Aplysia from West Australia

December 31, 2002
From: Masoud Abadi

Hi,
Tonight, [30 December 2002] we saw 3 large 20cm slugs that we can not identify, perhaps a Spanish Dancer? Here is one pic. It is from Bicton Baths, Swan River, Western Australia.
Regards,
Masoud

masoud@theinternetmen.com

Abadi, M., 2002 (Dec 31) Aplysia from West Australia. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8762

Dear Masoud,
Your mention that this may be a Spanish Dancer suggests you saw these animals swimming? If so, it is almost certainly the large Western Australian Sea Hare, Aplysia gigantea, which is a large swimming species often common in your part of the world. Even if you didn't see them swimming, I am pretty sure they are A. gigantea. There are other species of Sea Hares known from Western Australia, but I would need some photos showing the whole body, and size and shape of the parapodial [swimming?] flaps to be sure.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Dec 31). Comment on Aplysia from West Australia by Masoud Abadi. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/8762

Factsheet

Aplysia gigantea

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