What is this?

January 3, 2000
From: FAbienne Bovis

Hi everyone,
I am trying to identify an animal which I saw in the South of Spain this summer.

It was swimming at the surface of the water in the port, which is about 5 ms deep. It is dark brown to black, about 15 to 20 cms long. It has a soft mantel which assures motion. It also has horns like a snail, and the underneath of the animal is similar to a slug or a snail. It can stick to a surface, and also move.

No one locally seems to know what it is. We put it in a bucket to observe and feel it, and then released it.

I would be very grateful if someone could help me identify it.
Thank you!

FAbienne Bovis

toebee@mercuryin.es

Bovis, F., 2000 (Jan 3) What is this?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1715

Dear Fabienne,

I'm not sure if ypu have given me enough information to identify your animal but if it was swimming then it was possibly a Sea Hare, some species of which can swim. Have a look at the information in the Forum on Sea Hares and have a look at the message today from Stephanie Clark which has a photo of a swimming Sea Hare.

If your animal didn't look like a Sea Hare, a rough sketch or drawing would help us identify it.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Jan 3). Comment on What is this? by FAbienne Bovis. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/1715

Factsheet

What are Sea Hares? - page 2

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