Aplysia dactylomela
Next >>This is a common circumtropical species. It can be found in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Aplysia angasi Sowerby, 1869, is a synonym.
The animals in the order Anaspidea do not have a head shield. Other charachteristics of the order are internal shells, radula and gizzard plates, and parapodia, or flap like lateral outgrowths of the foot margins. These are distinctive, and give the animals a well decorated air. Some aplysia can even use these for swimming. The shells show some variation. If present at all, they are reduced in size. They can be internal calcified or horny shells. These guys are mostly herbivores, eating red and green algaes.
Aplysia are known as sea hares (Aplysiidae). If looked at long enough, they will remind you of a rabbit, hence the name. They have a large pair of fleshy oral tentacles extending forward and a pair of rhinophore extending backwards. The rhinophores could be construed as reminiscent to rabbit ears.
Sea hares are among the largest of the opistobranchs. Aplysia vaccaria, the sea cow, which is found in California, is the worlds largest gastropod.
