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| sea hares text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > sea slugs > Order Anaspidea |
| Geographic
sea hare Syphonota geographica Family Aplysiidae updated Oct 10 Where seen? This large delicately patterned and rather fleshy sea hare is seasonally common on our Northern shores, among seagrasses. Sometimes large numbers are seen, at other times, not at all. It is also known as Paraplysia geographica. Features: 8-12cm. Large, fleshy body is smooth. With two pairs of tentacles: one pair of large flappy oral tentacles forming a T-shape at the front of the body. When compared with sea hares of the genus Aplysia, sea hares of the genus Syphonota have relatively small rhinophores which are close together and situated further back from the head almost between the long 'wings' or parapodia. When submerged, these wings are held high. It is said that they can swim with their parapodia. Usually olive or greenish with fine white spots forming a series of bars on the body. Often found half buried in the sand, but sometimes crawling in the open, especially near sunrise or at night. It lays long tangles of pink egg strings among seaweeds and seagrasses. What does it eat? It is believed to feed on brown seaweeds, but in our observations, these animals seem more abundant during blooms of the green sea lettuce seaweed (Ulva sp.). |
 Changi, Jun 05  Tiny rhinophores near one another, held between parapodia. |
 Chek Jawa, Jun 05 |
 Changi, Jun 05 |
 Laying eggs? |
Geographic sea hares on Singapore shores
 Changi, Jun 07 |
 Thin shell. |
 Large flappy oral tentacles and small rhinophores. |
 Changi, May 11 |
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 Changi, Jun 05 |
 Sentosa, Jun 07 |
 Pulau Sekudu, Jul 07 |
 Pulau Ubin, Jun 08 |
 Changi, May 08 |
 Tanah Merah, Jun 09 |
 Cyrene Reef, Nov 11 |
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Links
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. IKAN-Unterwasserachiv. 723pp.
Sea Challengers. 314pp.|
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