Re: Sea Hares - mating chains

July 9, 1999
From: Sigrid Schmalzer

I am a volunteer at the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla, California (affiliated with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography) where I provide interpretation at the touch tanks. The California Sea Hares (Aplysia californica) in one of the tanks were mating today. Their position was very similar to that of the Sea Hares in the photos supplied by Erwin Koehler. I was amazed by how long they remained engaged -- several hours at least. They were not disturbed by gentle touches by the visitors, and the sea hare receiving sperm continued to "beg" and feed on Ulva (sea lettuce) offered by visitors.

Regarding the begging behavior, the Sea Hares placed in the touch tanks learn quickly that food comes from above. When tickled lightly on the head, they wave their heads and even open their beautiful mouths to receive Ulva (see photo). The wild Sea Hares I have found in nearby La Jolla Cove do not react at all to this kind of stimulus.

Despite their reputation for being fragile, the California Sea Hares do very well in the touch tanks. (Of course, we're very protective of them and ensure they're treated respectufully.) I have watched several grow from finger size to forearm size in the tanks.

This is a very good year for Sea Hares in this area. Visitors to La Jolla Cove have had a very easy time finding the Black Sea Hares (Aplysia vaccaria), and I found one California sea hare on my last visit.

Sigrid.

sschmalz@ucsd.edu

Schmalzer, S., 1999 (Jul 9) Re: Sea Hares - mating chains. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1038

Dear Sigrid,
Thanks for the interesting information on Sea Hares and the great photo of Aplysia with a mouthful!. By coincidence I have just had an enquiry from Eileen Steger about a 'black football-shaped' animal washed up on the beach in California which I guess is Aplysia vaccaria. If by chance you have a photo of Aplysia vaccaria it would be nice to be able put one on the Forum.

I have never heard of anyone 'training' Sea Hares like this for touch tanks, but obviously their use for scientific studies in learning and brain function suggests they can be taught simple things. As I'm sure you know, touch tanks are a great way for kids (and parents) to experience and discover why we find marine life so fascinating.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Factsheet

Aplysia californica

Related messages

  1. Aplysia californica? from Peru
    From: Leonidas Mulluhara, June 3, 2010
  2. Re: Sea of Cortez Mystery Slug
    From: Jennifer Beatty, April 5, 2007
  3. Sea of Cortez Mystery Slug
    From: Jennifer Beatty, April 4, 2007
  4. Juvenile Californian Sea Hare & friends
    From: Kevin Lee, December 12, 2006
  5. Aplysia californica from California
    From: Shannon Fabre, May 17, 2006
  6. Aplysia californica from Sea Of Cortez
    From: Gerald Hinkler, April 15, 2006
  7. Aplysia californica at Puerto Penasco, Mexico?
    From: Parker Tastrom, March 22, 2006
  8. Juvenile Aplysia californica from Monterey, CA
    From: Clinton Bauder, July 8, 2005
  9. Can Aplysia californica eat kale?
    From: John Lopez, March 5, 2005
  10. Information on Aplysia californica
    From: Michael Navarro, February 8, 2005
  11. Aplysia californica from Santa Barbara Island
    From: Chris Grossman , June 30, 2003
  12. Re: Aplysia gigantea or A. californica?
    From: Jun Imamoto, March 3, 2003
  13. Aplysia californica inking
    From: Bill Rudman, March 3, 2003
  14. Aplysia gigantea? A. californica? from Japan
    From: Jun Imamoto, February 5, 2003
  15. Which slug is used for medical research?
    From: John H. Garrett III, September 17, 2002
  16. Keeping Aplysia in aquaria
    From: Jessica Helm, August 29, 2001
  17. Re: Keeping Aplysia in aquaria
    From: Tom Capo , August 29, 2001
  18. Photos of Aplysia californica
    From: Daniel Geiger, August 1, 2001
  19. Mass mortality of Aplysia californica
    From: Jose Luis Ochoa, March 24, 2001
  20. Sea Hare classification - A. californica
    From: Rachel Frank, December 31, 2000
  21. Aplysia for brain studies
    From: Alvin Wong, September 2, 2000
  22. Information on Aplysia californica
    From: Luiza Zonzini, April 20, 2000
  23. Re: HUGE Sea Hare
    From: Ron Velarde, December 15, 1999
  24. Re: HUGE Sea Hare
    From: Diane, December 10, 1999
  25. Is this a sea slug? It's HUGE!!
    From: Diane, December 9, 1999
  26. Sea Slugs from South California
    From: Lonnie, July 13, 1999
  27. re: Need to know what we saw
    From: Eileen Steger, July 12, 1999
  28. Re: Sea Hares - mating chains
    From: Sigrid Schmalzer, July 12, 1999
  29. Need to Know what we saw
    From: Eileen Steger, July 8, 1999
  30. Photos of Aplysia californica
    From: Daniel Geiger, March 12, 1999
  31. Urechis caupa or Aplysia californica
    From: barbara hansen, February 26, 1999
  32. Aplysia californica algal preference
    From: Christine Nguyen, January 3, 1999
  33. Photo request for Aplysia californica
    From: Panayotis Matsinopoulos, August 3, 1998

Show factsheet and all related messages