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Additional Photos
interior
underside
young, 7 mm
young, spotted
young shell
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Aplysia juliana Quoy & Gaimard, 1832
Maximum size: about 150 mm
(most much smaller).
Identification:
This
sea
hare
is
light
olive
to
brown
with
darker
brown blotches on the
sides of the parapodia. Younger animals are lighter in color with
larger brown blotches. Very young animals may lack spots. The posterior
portion of the foot forms a
distinctive sucker.
Natural history:
Aplysia juliana is
a moderately common species that is largely restricted to rocky
habitats where there is an extensive growth of the green alga Ulva on which it feeds. It occurs
at depths of < 1 to 2 m (< 3 to 6 ft) at protected to moderately
exposed locations, usually where there is some fresh water and nutrient
seepage. It's nocturnal, concealing itself under rocks during the day.
The posterior sucker on the foot allows it to cling to algae and rocks,
crawling "inch-worm fashion." It ejects a milky white fluid when
disturbed and lays a tangled, yellowish-brown egg mass that is usually
attached to the underside of a rock.
Distribution:
Maui and Oahu: circumtropical.
Taxonomic notes:
Aplysia sandvicensis
Sowerby, 1869 is a synonym (Kay, 1979). It's referred to as "Juliana's
sea hare" in Hoover, 1998 & 2006. It
was first reported from Hawaii in Pease, 1860 (as Syphonota bipes).
Photo: CP:
100 mm: found by PF; on beach fronting Halama St., Kihei, Maui; March
12, 2011.
Observations and comments:
Note
1: ( )
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