Another large seahare from New Zealand

April 24, 2007
From: Ross Armstrong

Dear Bill

Thought you might be interested in knowing we found another large seahare at the Knights today. Just outside of Rikoriko cave where we found the first one we sent you [message #14048 ]. Suspect that is just a coincidence.

Poor Knights Islands, Northland, New Zealand. South Pacific Ocean. Depth: 13 metres. 22 April.2007. Cave entrance. Photographer: Ross Armstrong

What is interesting is that we did not see the white patch on the side of it like the last two had. The fin is 61cm long.

Best regards
Ross

ross@oceanwildlife.com

Armstrong, R., 2007 (Apr 24) Another large seahare from New Zealand. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19839

Thanks Ross,
The white spots with a dark brown ring are in fact present - but not quite as noticeable in this specimen. It certainly has similarities to the large Aplysia extraordinaria from eastern Australia but I can't recall a specimen with these distinctive brown-ringed white spots, and your animals seem to have no interest in swimming, which is a characteristic of A. extraordinaria. The only specimen I have seen in eastern Australia with these spots, is the small, apparently juvenile, animal I have on the A. sagamiana Fact Sheet.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2007 (Apr 24). Comment on Another large seahare from New Zealand by Ross Armstrong. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/19839

Factsheet

Aplysia sagamiana

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