Sea Hare

Intertidal Species Beach Pictures Chiton Hermit Crab Jellyfish Limpets Sand Dollars Sea Anemones Sea Cucumber Sea Horses Sea Stars Sea Worms Spiny Lobster Striped Shore Crab

At first glance, the sea hare does not look like a traditional mollusk. It does not have a hard shell cover.

However, sea hares are categorized as mollusks, and some have small internal shells to protect vital organs.

The top picture shows the California Brown Sea Hare (Aplysia californica), with the front and mouth side showing on the bottom left hand corner.

The two tenacles sticking up resemble a hare's ears, giving the animal its name.

Sea hares live in a variety of intertidal habitats, from grassy to rocky areas. They are herbivores that consume algae, seaweed and other plant life.

They move very slowly, making them an easy prey for predators. Like the octopus, their main defense mechanism is spraying a dark inky substance in the water, which in some cases is toxic.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels