Common Names
Members of the order Aplysiida are commonly known as sea hares, due to their resemblance to the head and ears of a hare. Some species are also referred to as black sea hares or white sea hares based on their coloration.
Characteristics
Aplysiida have a number of distinctive characteristics, including:
- A large, flattened body, often with a mantle that extends over the head
- A pair of large, prominent rhinophores, which are sensory organs used for detecting food and predators
- A pair of large, lateral parapodia, which are fleshy appendages that extend from the sides of the body
- A single, centrally located gill, which is located under the mantle
- A radula, which is a ribbon-like structure in the mouth with rows of teeth used for scraping algae
- An ink gland, which is used to release a cloud of ink to confuse predators
Environments
Aplysiida are found in a variety of marine environments, including:
- Tropical and temperate oceans worldwide
- Rocky shores
- Seagrass beds
- Coral reefs
References
For more information on Aplysiida, please refer to the following resources:
