Aplysia argus

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Aplysia argus
Aplysia argus 001 bis.jpg
Aplysia argus (original drawing)
Aplysia argus Reunion.jpg
Aplysia argus in Réunion.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Aplysiida
Superfamily: Aplysioidea
Family: Aplysiidae
Genus: Aplysia
Species:
A. argus
Binomial name
Aplysia argus
(J.G.Cooper, 1863)
Synonyms
  • Aplysia (Tethys) benedictiEliot, 1900
  • Aplysia angasiG. B. Sowerby II, 1869
  • Aplysia annuliferaThiele, 1930 junior subjective synonym
  • Aplysia benedictiEliot, 1900
  • Aplysia bourailliRisbec, 1951
  • Aplysia fimbriataA. Adams & Reeve, 1850
  • Aplysia odorataRisbec, 1928
  • Aplysia odorata var. bourailliRisbec, 1951 (invalid: infrasubspecific name)
  • Aplysia operta(Burne, 1906) junior subjective synonym
  • Aplysia radiataEhrenberg, 1831
  • Aplysia scutellataEhrenberg, 1831
  • Aplysia tigrinaRang, 1828
  • Aplysia veliferBergh, 1905
  • Syphonota viridescensPease, 1868
  • Tethys opertaBurne, 1906 junior subjective synonym

Aplysia argus is a species of gastropod mollusc in the genus Aplysia , family Aplysiidae. [1]

Contents

This species is native to the Indo-Pacific region. [2] The common name for Aplysia argus is the White speckled sea hare. [2]

Description

(Original description in Latin) Sea hare with an olive-colored body, with ocellated (eye-like) spots scattered everywhere on its back; the ocelli are composed of a whitish spot with a dark-brown margin. [3]

This species has long been confused with Aplysia dactylomela (living in the Atlantic Ocean) because they are morphologically very similar, but genetic studies have shown that those found in the Indo-Pacific are indeed a distinct species. [4] Aplysia argus are very small creatures that grow up to 8 inches in length. [5] They are gray to brown with white specks and brown or black rings. [5]

Distribution & Habitat

Aplysia argus are species native to the Indo-Pacific region. [2] Areas such as the Hawaiian islands, French Frigate Shoals, Laysan, Midway and Kure. [6] They can be found in shallow pools of seawater surrounded by rocks ranging from three to six feet deep. [6] They are nocturnal creatures and during the day they hide underneath rocks. Most sea hares stay near their egg masses. [6]

References

  1. ↑ Aplysia argusRüppell & Leuckart, 1830 . 15 September 2025. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species .
  2. 1 2 3 "White-speckled Sea Hare, Aplysia argus". www.marinelifephotography.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  3. ↑ Rüppell, E. & Leuckart, F. S. (1828–1830). Mollusca. In: Atlas zu der Reise im nordlichen Afrika von Eduard Rüppell. Neue wirbellose Thiere des Rothen Meeres. Frankfurt: H. L. Brönner. p. 23. Retrieved 18 September 2025.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  4. ↑ Alexander, and Valdés (2013). The ring doesn’t mean a thing: Molecular data suggests a new taxonomy for two Pacific species of sea hares (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia, Aplysiidae). Pacific Science 67: 283–294.
  5. 1 2 Hoover, John P. (1998). Hawai'i's sea creatures : a guide to Hawai'i's marine invertebrates. [Honolulu, Hawaii]: Mutual Pub. ISBN   1-56647-220-2. OCLC   41975146.
  6. 1 2 3 "Aplysia argus: main page". seaslugsofhawaii.com. Retrieved 2023-02-27.


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