Hundreds of slugs in Florida

June 20, 2002
From: Trevin Bernarding

I spent last week on LongBoat Key, Florida, on vacation with my family. On our first day at the beach, June 9, we encountered literally hundreds of sea slugs on the beach, on the water bottom, and floating in the surf. I have gone to LongBoat off and on for the last 20 years and have never encountered even one of these creatures, let alone hundreds. The sea slugs looked like large brown shell-less snails, and would emit a purple liquid as a defense mechanism. By the end of our stay six days later, the slugs were mostly gone. My children and I are quite curious as why such an enormous population would suddenly appear on the beach, and we are equally curious as to why they would disappear a mere few days later.
Trevin Bernarding

trevinb@hotmail.com

Bernarding, T., 2002 (Jun 20) Hundreds of slugs in Florida. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7310

Dear Trevin,
'Swarming' slugs emitting purple ink can only mean Sea Hares. Have a look at the Sea Hares page for some general information and links to other pages. The two species you are most likely to find doing this in Florida are Aplysia brasiliana and Aplysia morio. If you look at both those pages, and their attached messages, you will find photos and information about both species in Florida and their 'swarming' behaviour. Concerning why such large populations can apparently appear and disappear so quickly, have look at the Mass Mortality page.
best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Jun 20). Comment on Hundreds of slugs in Florida by Trevin Bernarding. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7310

Factsheet

Aplysia brasiliana

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