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Aplysia dactylomela
Pale brown in colour with dark circular spots, large about 40cm. Aplysia dactylomela is a species of large sea slug, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusc in the family Aplysiidae, the sea hares.
Spotted at Rottnest Island, WA (Australia), 5 m deep, well camouflaged on seagrass meadow, it is found in shallow waters, tide pools and rocky and sandy substrates, they also will be found feeding in beds of sea grass. During the day they will mostly hide under large rocks and in crevices. They usually stay in relatively shallow water, but they have been found as deep as 40 m
Like the octopus, the Aplysia dactylomela squirts purple ink if it is disturbed; this ink is an irritant that causes 'altered behaviour' in other invertebrates and fish. Their leathery skin contains toxins which make this sea hare practically inedible to most predators. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda (unranked): clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Euopisthobranchia clade Aplysiomorpha Superfamily: Aplysioidea Family: Aplysiidae Genus: Aplysia Species: A. dactylomela
Spotted on Apr 13, 2017
Submitted on Apr 19, 2017
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