Aplysia extraordinaria from Sydney Harbour

January 3, 2000
From: Stephanie Clark

Dear Bill

Well here is one of the photos I promised to send. It is probably Aplysia extraordinaria - since it did swim.

The specimen was about 18cm and was found stranded on the mud on the out going tide, on Rodd Island, Iron Cove, Sydney Harbour, on the 22 Nov 1999. Once the specimen was placed back in the water it started to swim. It was the only sea hare seen on the day. Have a look at my message about Dendrodoris denisoni

Regards,
Stephanie.

inverte@internet-australia.com

Clark, S., 2000 (Jan 3) Aplysia extraordinaria from Sydney Harbour. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1623

Thanks Steph,

It's definitely Aplysia extraordinaria. To those not familiar with Sydney, Iron Cove is one of the bays and inlets around which the centre of the city is built, and until recently was part of a seriously polluted busy industrial port. In recent years containerisation and the shift of heavy industry to outlying areas has reduced the degree of pollution in the area, but it is still amazing that this area, just a few 100 metres from a still active and major port can still support a very healthy population of sea slugs and other marine life.

Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Jan 3). Comment on Aplysia extraordinaria from Sydney Harbour by Stephanie Clark. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1623

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