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Phylum Mollusca
Opisthobranchs
Order Anaspida
SEA
HARES
| Hawaii has many types of opisthobranchs some
of which are undescribed species. Some of these will go through population
surges, abundant one year and absent another, or seasonal appearances.
Most live less than a year and will be found near the specific food they
eat. Food includes seaweeds and a wide assortment of small invertebrates
such as sponges, cnidarians, and
mollusks. Slugs that feed upon green
seaweed often store algal cells in their mantle for photosynthesis. Sea
Hares produce a purple ink from red algae when disturbed. Others may
produce toxic compounds from food or store stinging cells in the body as defense
against predators. Good places to find them are under stones in the
intertidal zone and shady walls and caverns in deeper water. As with many
invertebrates more will be seen at night. |
| Sea hares have plump bodies with two sets of parapodia on the
head. The mantle is split laterally forming an opening for
respiration. They feed upon red algae and exude a noxious purple
dye when disturbed. Populations are dynamic, abundant some years
and absent in others. They are hermaphroditic and may form mating
chains of many animals. |
HAWAII
Family Aplysiidae
Aplysia dactylomela
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu
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Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
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WHITE-SPECKLED SEA HARE
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Brown with cloudy white markings and large black
rings. Common on shallow reef flats. Attains 8 inches.
Worldwide in warm & temperate seas.
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Aplysia juliana
Laysan Island, NWHI, 4 feet
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EYED SEA HARE
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Uncommon on reefs in shallow water. Posterior
end of body forms a sucker-like disc. About 8 inches. Worldwide
in warm seas.
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Aplysia oculifera
Diamond Head, Oahu, intertidal |
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EYED SEA HARE
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Rare under stones in shallow water. Green with white mottling and white dots ringed with
black. Reaches 3 inches. Hawaii & the Indo-West Pacific.
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Aplysia parvula
Angel Ledge, Midway Atoll, 75 feet |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
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SMALL SEA HARE
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Brown to black with light margins, quite variable. Locally abundant on
seaweed. Less than 1 inch. Worldwide in warm and temperate
seas.
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Dolabella auricularia
Midway Harbor, 15 feet |
Midway Harbor, 15 feet |
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EARED SEA HARE
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Giant warty sea hare seen at night in shallow water. Posterior of body appears as if cut-off at an angle.
Reaches at least 10 inches when extended. Eggs look like a mass of
tangled spaghetti. Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.
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Dolabrifera dolabrifera
Kaloko, Oahu, 1 foot |
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COMMON SEA HARE
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Common under rocks in shallow water and tidepools. Foot is broad
and spreads over the substrate. About 2 inches. Warm seas
around the world.
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Stylocheilus striatus
Kaunolu Point tidepool, Lana'i
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Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu
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Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu |
Kewalo, Oahu, 80 feet |
Kewalo, Oahu, 80 feet |
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LINED SEA HARE
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Seasonally abundant on algae or sand. Brown with fine black lines and neon blue
ocelli; body covered
with papillae. About 2 to 3 inches long. Feeds upon blue-green
algae. Warm seas around the world.
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Stylocheilus longicauda
 Anglers
Reef, Hawaii Kai, Oahu |
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PELAGIC SEA HARE
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Inhabits floating brown algae Sargassum
in warm waters around the world but rarely seen near shore. About 2 to 3 inches long.
Formerly known as S. citrina.
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EASTERN PACIFIC
Aplysia californica
 
Long Point, Catalina, California, 20 feet |
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CALIFORNIA SEA HARE
| Common in shallow water. Up to 14 inches. Baja California
to Oregon. |
Aplysia vaccaria
Rock Quarry, Catalina, California, 20 feet |
Rock Quarry, Catalina, California, 20 feet |
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GIANT SEA HARE
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Uncommon in shallow water. The largest gastropod in the world,
up to 3 feet long and 30 pounds. Baja California to Monterey Bay.
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