A new review of Sea Hare defence mechanisms

August 14, 1999
From: Bill Rudman.

Last year a graduate student, P.M. Johnson, Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. pmj@u.washington.edu, sent messages enquiring about Sea Hares, and potential collecting sites.

A pleasant surprise in my mail this week was his thanks for assistance provided by the Forum, and an excellent published review of Sea Hare defence mechanisms. Of particular interest is the distinction the authors make between the milky opaline gland secretion and 'white ink' which is produced by some species in place of the purple 'ink' more commonly associated with aplysiids.

For those interested, the reference is:
Johnson, P.M & Willows, A.O.D, (1999) Defense in Sea Hares (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia, Anaspidea): multiple layers of protection from egg to adult. Marine & Freshwater Behaviour & Physiology, 32: 147-180.

One predator they miss in the review of egg mass predators, is the aeolid nudibranchs of the genus Favorinus, many species of which seem to feed exclusively on opisthobranch egg masses.

Bill Rudman.

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 Hares and Inking
    From: Melanie, March 22, 2001
  17. Sea Hare Self Defense
    From: Tina Paget, February 21, 2001
  18. Siphon Withdrawal Reflex in Sea Hares
    From: Steve Potts, December 15, 2000
  19. Tyrian Purple
    From: Mary Townsend, August 28, 2000
  20. Turtles eating Sea Hares
    From: Michael D. Miller, May 5, 2000
  21. What Preys on Sea Hares?
    From: Claire, March 7, 2000
  22. Slugs that squirt ink
    From: Orso Angulo Campillo, November 25, 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