User:Kobikj/Aplysia argus

Aplysia Argus
White speckled sea hares come in a variety of different sizes and colors. The color of the species depends on what color seaweed algae the creature eats in its living environment. In addition, the diet the species consumes also determines the color of the ink it secretes. The outside features of the white speckled sea hare does not have any external protection (e.g. shell). [[File:Aplysia argus Réunion.jpg|thumb|            Aplysia argus Réunion

Classification: Gastropods

Phyum: Mollusca

Class: Gastropoda]]

Classification
The white speckled sea hare (Aplysia Argus) is a large marine sea slug in the Phylum mollusca and the class gastropoda.

Anatomy
The white speckled sea hare is nocturnal and hides in the rocks and crevices to avoid being eaten by their predators during the day. The sea hare’s skin secretes a toxin to help it avoid being eaten by their predators in the water. When the sea hare is disturbed, it will release a bright purple ink to avoid their predators.

Defense
The white speckled sea hare has toxic skin secretions and can shoot out ink to avoid predation. The ink affects the predator's sense of smell, giving the white speckled sea hare a chance to get away and survive.

Distribution
Native to all Hawaiian islands and other areas of the Indo-Pacific region.

Habitat
Mollusks can live in a variety of different areas such as saltwater, freshwater, and on land. The white speckled sea hare are commonly found in shallow rocky areas feeding on the seafloor or on corals eating algae or other plants. They are nocturnal sea creatures and hide in the rocks and crevices to avoid being eaten by their predators during the day.