Cryptic color and morphology of a seahare, Dlabella auricularia

(7.9MB, 00:00:46)
Shot Date: 2004/08/14
Shot Location: Rocky reef of Tenjinzaki

species
Dolabella auricularia

Key Words
Cryptic color
Cryptic morphology
Mollusca
Gastropoda


Yuji Hirose
2004/09/30 submitted



Animalia >Mollusca >Gastropoda >Cephalaspidea >Aplysiidae >Dolabella >

A sea hare, Dlabella auricularia, was filmed in a tide pool. Although its is often mistaken as a rock covered with algae, you can recognize it as an animal when it is moving. In areas of sand or silt, a sea hare buries its anterior body under the substrate and keeps its disc-shaped posterior body at the level of the bottom. Once this is done, the posterior body can not be distinguished from algal covered surroundings. A water flow over gills is maintained through tubes and slits at the center of the disc. The sea hare has cryptic body morphology and coloration that merge into the surroundings. (translated by Asoh)

(Data No.momo040930da01b)

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