Locomotion in Dolabrifera dolabrifera

April 26, 2003
From: Bill Rudman

Species of Dolabrifera crawl with a very characteristic leech-like movement. Here are a sequence of photos of an animal showing this.

Angourie pool, North Coast, NSW. Australia. March 1982. 34mm - semiextended length. AM C132999. Photos: Bill Rudman

Dolabrifera is a very flattened Sea Hare with a very broad foot which enables it to stick firmly to the rocky substrate on which it lives. It could be considered a Sea Hare 'Limpet'. When crawling, the posterior end f the foot forms a posterior disc whih is firmly attached to the rock. At the same time the head is slightly raised off the rock and extends forward, the front part of the body stretching out to form a thin neck. When it stretches forward as far as it can, the head drops to the rock surface and attaches to it. Gradually the neck also attaches and gradually pulls the body forward - and the the proess is repeated again.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2003 (Apr 26) Locomotion in Dolabrifera dolabrifera. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/9789

Factsheet

Dolabrifera dolabrifera

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