Was it a sea slug?

August 20, 2000
From: Roy Harrell

Hi.
I was wondering if anyone could help determine what species, if at all, of sea slug this was. I spotted it in Port Aransas, Texas, USA, free-swimming near the surface just off a jetty. It was using 'wings' to propel itself similar to a ray.

The animal was 8" long and 3" wide, a reddish/brown color with white/gray, slightly raised, spots 1/2 inch apart covering its body. Later in the day I found the animal left to die on a rock. It was sill moving, but was bleeding a deep maroon liquid and had begun to dry out.

Roy Harrell

roymh@swbell.net

Harrell, R., 2000 (Aug 20) Was it a sea slug?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2904

Dear Roy,
It sounds like you saw a Sea Hare. Have a look at the page on Aplysia brasiliana, which is the species you probably saw, and the messages below yours on this page for reports and photos of this Sea Hare and its swimming behaviour.

The 'purple blood' you saw was not blood but a secretion many Sea Hares produce when they are distressed. Although many publications suggest this purple ink is for defence, we really haven't any evidence to support that idea.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Aug 20). Comment on Was it a sea slug? by Roy Harrell. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2904

Factsheet

Aplysia brasiliana

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