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Project Noah Nature School
The sea hare is actually a large snail that has a very thin shell under its skin. It is a very fragile creature that has adapted to the tidepools by moving slowly and with subtle camouflage coloring that resembles a tidepool rock. Because the sea hare has slow and fragile characteristics, it has adapted to its environment by developing a defense mechanism similar to an octopus. It can excrete purple ink that may confuse, paralyze or be offensive to a predator. As this camouflaged herbivore slowly grazes the rocks for algae, it can shrivel up its small flexible body and tuck itself into small rocky crevices for protection when the tide recedes or the waves are pounding.
tidal pools
Spotted on May 23, 2013
Submitted on Jun 13, 2013
1 Comment
I've moved this sea hare from the Arthropod category to the Other category for you. Sea hares, snails and slugs are Mollusks. Arthropods have an exoskeleton and jointed limbs in at least one phase of their life. Think dragonfly, bee, crab, and ant.
Good notes by the way!