Sea Hare from Sth Carolina, USA

June 16, 2006
From: Natalie Barbare

Can anyone help in identifying a sea slug I found beached in a tidal pool in South Carolina, US? When I put it back in the water, its body was a cream color with no particular markings, but its "wings" were distinctive. It swam by undulating the "wings" attached to its sides and the wings were red wine colored irregular spots. It did not crawl on the sand, but stayed swimming for several minutes as I walked by it in the shallow water.

Locality: Sandy beach, beached in tidal pool, South Carolina, USA, Atlantic Ocean, 06 June 2006, sandy tidal pool. Length: 9 inches.

Thanks for any ideas!
Natalie Barbare

natalie202@hotmail.com

Barbare, N., 2006 (Jun 16) Sea Hare from Sth Carolina, USA. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16872

Dear Natalie,
From your description I would say you have found a large Sea Hare. The most likely species would be Aplysia brasiliana. Have a look at the Fact Sheets and earlier messages for more information.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2006 (Jun 16). Comment on Sea Hare from Sth Carolina, USA by Natalie Barbare. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/16872

Factsheet

Aplysia brasiliana

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