Dolabrifera dolabrifera

Dolabrifera dolabrifera is a species of sea hare, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusc in the family Aplysiidae.

A more general description can be found on the page of the superfamily Aplysioidea.

Distribution

This species is found circumglobally, in tropical and subtropical waters.

Habitat

This sea hare is found amongst algae at low tide.

Description

The animal is a small flattened sea slug, with a broad posterior mantle, narrowing towards the head. The parapodia (fleshy winglike flaps) are fused, except for a short region in the posterior midline, where two small flaps form an inhalent and exhalent opening into the parapodial chamber which encloses the reduced mantle cavity and shell. Although often described as smooth, it would seem that this species is covered in low tubercles which bear retractile single or compound papillae. In preserved animals these papillae are seldom described presumably because they are retracted during preservation. The animal moves in a unique way, like a leech. It feeds mostly by grazing on filamentous algae.

Eggs are zigzag-shaped ribbons, pink when laid then changing color to brown before hatching.

Coloration is variable, mimicking the background, but is usually beige, mottled green, pink, or chartreuse green.

This species is frequently sold as "algae eating sea hare" at aquarium stores for saltwater and reef tanks.

Length is up to 40 mm.

Gallery

External links

• Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
• SeaSlugForum