Brown-winged sea slug from Florida

May 12, 1999
From: SB

On a recent trip to St. Augustine, Florida, my sister and her husband came across a type of sea slug that they would like your help in identifing this creature. It was brown (color of standard land slugs), with what could be called wings. It would "fly" in the water like a sting ray, buried itself in sand with a "air tube" sticking up through the sand. They also saw one that was injured and it omitted a purplish "ink". If you can help with this because the curiousity is killing us.

Thank you

Sherri

sherrib@citlink.net

SB, 1999 (May 12) Brown-winged sea slug from Florida. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/856

Dear Sherri,

There is a second message today about swimming Sea Slugs from Florida. It sounds like a Sea Hare and your mention of purple ink is a fairly definite confirmation that it is. The 'air-tube' you describe, is a good description, because it is the exhalant siphon which it uses to 'exhale' water from its mantle cavity in which the gill - which Sea Hares use to breathe - is situated.

Have a look at my answer to Esat Atikken's message which is also about a swimming slug from Florida.

If you have a look at the 'Sea Hare' topics listed in the General Topics Index you will find quite a bit of background information on these animals. In particular, have a look at the photos of Aplysia extraordinaria which is a swimming species from Australia, and shows the large parapodia used for swimming.

Any chance of a photo to put on the Forum?

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 1999 (May 12). Comment on Brown-winged sea slug from Florida by SB. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/856

Factsheet

Aplysia brasiliana

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