Re: Aplysia brasiliana from Florida

April 12, 2010
From: Kelsey Workinger

Concerning message #23453:

I agree that this species was indeed an Aplysia brasiliana. They are really neat to watch swim. I am a marine biology student, and have seen smaller specimens in the Indian River Lagoon in Ft. Pierce, FL. Over the past couple months I have seen 3 of the sea hares at least 1 ft long here in Naples (just north of Marco Island). Luckily I realized what it was, and it was close enough to the dock, I reached down and picked it up for my friends to see. From what I have learned the inking is a pretty common defense mechanism. The one we caught and studied in the IRL was constantly inking, but to my surprise these three, on separate occasions, never inked. Do you think this was just a coincidence or do they not ink as often as I assumed?

Locality: Naples, 3ft-6ft, Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Feb-April, Marinas. Length: 10-12 in

Thanks so much!
Kelsey Workinger

klworkinger6@gmail.com

Dear Kelsey,

If you search for inking using the Forum Search facility you will find a large list of messages and Fact Sheets on the topic. Otherwise go to the Sea Hare Ink Glands Fact Sheet. Sea Hares can only manufacture their purple ink if they have been feeding on red algae, so your 'de-inked' animals may have used up all their ink supply either by a recent inking episode or because they haven't eaten red algae in a while

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2010 (Apr 12). Comment on Re: Aplysia brasiliana from Florida by Kelsey Workinger. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/23469

Factsheet

Aplysia brasiliana

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