A new review of Sea Hare defence mechanisms

August 14, 1999
From: Bill Rudman.

Last year a graduate student, P.M. Johnson, Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. pmj@u.washington.edu, sent messages enquiring about Sea Hares, and potential collecting sites.

A pleasant surprise in my mail this week was his thanks for assistance provided by the Forum, and an excellent published review of Sea Hare defence mechanisms. Of particular interest is the distinction the authors make between the milky opaline gland secretion and 'white ink' which is produced by some species in place of the purple 'ink' more commonly associated with aplysiids.

For those interested, the reference is:
Johnson, P.M & Willows, A.O.D, (1999) Defense in Sea Hares (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia, Anaspidea): multiple layers of protection from egg to adult. Marine & Freshwater Behaviour & Physiology, 32: 147-180.

One predator they miss in the review of egg mass predators, is the aeolid nudibranchs of the genus Favorinus, many species of which seem to feed exclusively on opisthobranch egg masses.

Bill Rudman.


Factsheet

Ink glands

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