Aplysia reticulata Eales, 1960

Description

A medium-sized sea hare with a cream background colour and a dense network of brown lines and patches running across the whole body. The brown spots tend to enlarge towards the parapodial margins, the rhinophores, and the oral tentacles. The parapodia are well developed and the animal swims actively by flapping them.

Distribution

Originally described from material taken off north-western Australia. Subsequently recorded across the Indo-West Pacific, including various parts of Australia (Queensland and Western Australia) and as far as Hawaii.

Etymology

The specific epithet reticulata is Latin for "reticulate" or "net-like", in reference to the netted brown markings on the body.

Remarks

Feeds on algae, rasping them with the radula. Japanese material is often misidentified as the common Aplysia kurodai, but A. reticulata can be distinguished by its active parapodial swimming and its finer, denser reticulate body pattern.

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References

• Aplysia reticulata n. sp., Eales N.B. (1960). Revision of the world species of Aplysia. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Zoology. 5(10): 267-404.
• Aplysia reticulata, Klussmann-Kolb A. (2004). Phylogeny of the Aplysiidae (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia) with new aspects of the evolution of seahares. Zoologica Scripta. 33(5): 439-462.