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Order APLYSIIDA (= Anaspidea)

Sea Hares

Introduction

A group of shallow water herbivorous opisthobranchs. Here the majority are large species, including the largest, Aplysia vaccaria from California and Mexico which attains 990 mm in length and almost 14 kg in weight. Sea hares usually have a narrower head end with forward projecting oral tentacles and dorsally directed rhinophores shaped rather like rabbit’s ears. The visceral mass makes up the bulky posterior part of the animal, behind which extends a short or long tail. All sea hares have parapodia, in some species well developed and standing upwards, in others small and folded close to the body to protect the mantle cavity. There is an external shell enveloping the visceral mass in the family Akeridae. In the family Aplysiidae, the shell is either absent, or reduced and internal, sitting over the visceral mass. Some species in each family can swim using their parapodia. Compiled from Burn (in press).

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
HETEROBRANCHIA 08-Nov-2018 ADDED