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= Aplysia gigantea =

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aplysia gigantea is a species of sea slug, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Aplysiidae. The species was first described in the Journal of the malacological Society of Australia in 1869. A. gigantea is also known more commonly as the sea hare due to their posterior chemosensory tentacles resembling a hare's ear. A. gigantea is the largest known species in Australia of the opisthobranch genus. The species is known to have toxic effects on terrestrial organisms, particularly domestic dogs. Exposure to this species with dogs has been associated with the development of neurotoxicosis, with symptoms ranging from respiratory distress to tremors, muscle fasciculations, and seizures.

Distribution[ edit]
Aplysia gigantea are commonly found near the southwestern corner of Western Australia, in soft sediment or reef. They are found in shallow water, ranging from 0-20m in depth. A. gigantea are most commonly witnessed from January to March and it is not uncommon to witness beach strandings of this species numbering in the hundreds. A. gigantea are found most often in waters that range from 13.1-23.2°C. The species has not yet been assessed by the IUCN, and thus its conservation status remains unknown.

Description[ edit]
A. gigantea are known to be able to grow up to 60cm long, making it one of the largest species of sea hare in Australia. They are usually a dark brown or black color. Additionally, they are distinguished by large paradopia on their backs, which function as limbs allowing for swimming for short periods of time. The species also has scent and taste receptors known as rhinophores, located on the dorsal surface of its head. These organs resemble a hare's ears and are responsible for it's more colloquial name of sea hare. The sea hare's eyes are also located beneath the rhinosphores, and are able to sense light and shadow. The organism's gills, as well as an internal, calcified shell is also present, and are located in close proximity to the its heart. The shell itself is particularly fragile, and the paradopia serve a secondary function in both enclosing and protecting it. The adults of this species are also herbivorous in nature, with a diet that primarily consists of algae.

Defense[ edit]
A. gigantea is able to produce inks and secretions from two main secretory glands that render hidden or toxic to predators. When ingested by domestic dogs, several symptoms have been recorded, including respiratory issues, ptyalism, emesis, ataxia, and hyperaesthesia. It is suggested that the sea hares' diet of red algae provides the molecules needed to create toxins.

Reproduction [ edit]
A. gigantea mate during summer and early autumn. A. gigantea are hermaphrodites and often mate in numbers ranging from 2 to around 20, and produce orange colored spawn. In these mating groups, one individual will utilize only female or male reproductive organs respectively, while other participants use both. The eggs produced by A. gigantea are in long and stringy clumps, and hatch into planktonic larvae which feed on microscopic algae.

References[ edit]

 * 1) Wells, Fred E. "A Redescription of the Sea Hare Aplysia Gigantea Sowerby, 1869." Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia 7.3-4 (1986): 173-78. Web.
 * 2) Rudman, W. B. (2010-07-15). "The Sea Slug Forum - Aplysia gigantea". www.seaslugforum.net. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
 * 3) .Bebbington, A., 1977. Aplysiid species from eastern Australia with notes on the Pacific Ocean Aplysiomorpha (Gastropoda, Opistobranchia). Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond. 34 1: 87-147.
 * 4) Peacock, R E, G. Hosgood, K L Swindells, and L. Smart. "Aplysia Gigantea Toxicosis in 72 Dogs in Western Australia." Australian Veterinary Journal 91.7 (2013): 292-295. Web.
 * 5) Brook, J., Peters, K., Bryars, S., Owen, S., Hicks, J., Miller, D., Easton, D., Eglington, Y., Meakin, C. and Brock, D., 2020. Subtidal Reef Health Program: Baseline status of subtidal reefs and associated biodiversity patterns in the AMLR region.
 * 6) Moroz, L.L., 2011. Aplysia. Current biology: CB, 21(2), p.R60.