Home Guide to Opisthobranchs Aplysiida Aplysia dactylomela

Aplysia dactylomela

Aplysia dactylomela (Rang, 1828)

Aplysia dactylomela @ Es Caials 18-08-2016 by Àlex Bartolí

Taxonomy
 

Superdomain

Biota  

 

Kingdom

Animalia  

 

Phylum

Mollusca  

 

Class

Gastropoda  

 

Subclass

Heterobranchia  

 

Infraclass

Euthyneura  

 

Subterclass

Tectipleura  

 

Order

Aplysiida  

 

Superfamily

Aplysioidea  

 

Family

Aplysiidae  

 

Genus

Aplysia  

 

Species

Aplysia dactylomela  Rang, 1828

 
 Classification according to Bouchet et al. (2017)
Taxonomic source: World Register of Marine Species (AphiaID: 138753).
Taxonomic note: according to the work by Jennifer Alexander and Ángel Valdés: The ring doesn’t mean a thing: Molecular data suggest a new taxonomy for two Pacific species of sea hares (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia, Aplysiidae), published in Pacific Science in 2013, A. dactylomela is an Atlantic species, while Aplysia argus  (Rüppell & Leuckart, 1828), is the oldest valid name for the Indo-Pacific specimens. The question was to determine the species for Mediterranean specimens. Again, according to the paper by Valdés et al. 2013 – The origin and dispersal pathway of the spotted sea hare Aplysia dactylomela (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia) in the Mediterranean Sea, all Mediterranean specimens studied so far are of Atlantic origin, hence they are true Aplysia dactylomela.

Synonyms

  • Aplysia aequorea Heilprin, 1888
  • Aplysia angasi G.B. Sowerby II, 1869
  • Aplysia annulifera Thiele, 1930
  • Aplysia benedicti Eliot, 1899
  • Aplysia bourailli Risbec, 1951
  • Aplysia fimbriata Adams & Reeve, 1850
  • Aplysia megaptera Verrill, 1900
  • Aplysia ocellata d’Orbigny, 1839
  • Aplysia odorata Risbec, 1928
  • Aplysia operta Burne, 1906
  • Aplysia protea Rang, 1828
  • Aplysia radiata Ehrenberg, 1831
  • Aplysia schrammi Deshayes, 1857
  • Aplysia scutellata Ehrenberg, 1831
  • Aplysia tigrina Rang, 1828
  • Aplysia velifer Bergh, 1905

Description
This spectacular species of sea hare can reach a size of 40 cm in length. The body of this species is thick, with well developed parapodia that are free at the rear end and can completely cover the dorsum of the animal. The background color of the body varies from light to dark brown to yellowish or olive green on which appear numerous black rings of different sizes that make this species unmistakable. There are also thin or thick sometimes dashed black lines that starting from the rings may converge among them, those lines can be very abundant in the outer edge of the parapodia. The inner face of the parapodia has usually very wide, dark, almost black, spots radiating from the visceral mass to the edge of the parapodia. The oral tentacles are very well developed, enlarged and leaf-like. The dorsal zone of the mantle also usually has large dark spots like those inside the parapodia. The anal siphon is highly developed. The rhinophores, as in other species of sea hares, are auriculate. The spermatic groove is very visible and stands out as a dark line from the right anterior edge of the mantle to somewhere ahead the rhinophore of the same side. The shell is completely covered by the dorsal mantle and there is no dorsal foramen. The foot is wide and slightly darker than the body color.

Biology
Aplysia dactylomela lives in rocky or sandy shallow waters and in intertidal pools with an abundance of algae. It has also been observed in more depth, up to 40 m. Like all sea hares they are herbivorous and has a voracious appetite, feeding on a wide range of red algae of the genera Corallina, Laurencia, Acanthophora, Centroceras and Gracilaria or green algae like Ulva and Cladophora. Due to the structure of the parapodia, unfused on the rear end, it is capable of swimming movements. When specimens are abruptly disturbed they are able to segregate a reddish defensive fluid from some glands in the mantle. Like all sea hares, this species is a simultaneous hermaphrodite and when mating several individuals can copulate in chain. The spawn is like a scrambled cord with lots of eggs that can be yellow, pink or purple.

Etymology

  • Aplysia. From greek word for “dirty”, “unwashed”.
  • Dactylomela. Composed word of Greek origin, “Dactylo” from the word for “ring” and “Mela” from the word for “black”: “Black rings”.

Distribution
Although it was thought that this species had a very wide circumtropical distribution, having been reported in almost all warm waters and tropical seas of the world, according to the work (Alexander & Valdés, 2013) findings from the Pacific and Indian Oceans of A.dactylomela are actually A.argus. Thus, the distribution of A.dactylomela covers from the Cape Verde archipelago (which are the type specimens of the species), the Caribbean and around the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Florida, Bermuda, Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Senegal and the Canary islands. It has recently been found in the Mediterranean Sea, with reports from Israel, the island of Malta, Sicily, the Greek islands and in Croatia, where it has proven it can reproduce. It has recently been found in the Balearic Islands (Cap d’en Font, Menorca, 05/25/2016 by Joop Werson [GROC]) and Catalonia (Cala Secains, Sant Feliu de Guixols, 06/20/2016 by Xavier Salvador [GROC] and Es Caials, Cadaqués, Girona, Spain 18/08/2016 by Àlex Bartolí) in what are the first reports for Spain and Catalonia.

Known georeferenced records of the species: Aplysia dactylomela
Sources:
: OBIS
: GROC 2010-2011
: Enric Madrenas
: João Pedro Silva
: Bernard Picton
: GBIF.ORG		 : OPK
: VIMAR
: Manuel Ballesteros.
: M@re Nostrum
: Altres fonts
: Marine Regions

Abundance

    Western Mediterranean: ★☆☆☆☆
    Eastern Mediterranean: ★★☆☆☆
    Atlantic Ocean: ★★★☆☆
Month

This chart displays the monthly observation probability for Aplysia dactylomela based on our own records.

More pictures

Aplysia dactylomela
Aplysia dactylomela @ El Hierro (Canarias)
Aplysia dactylomela Observed at S. Maria al Bagno, Lecce, Puglia, Italia (18/10/2011) by Cataldo Licchelli
Aplysia dactylomela Observed at S. Maria al Bagno, Lecce, Puglia, Italia (18/10/2011)
Aplysia dactylomela @ Tenerife 04-07-2007 by Manuel Martínez Chacón
Aplysia dactylomela (dark form) @ Tenerife (Canary Islands) by Manuel Martínez Chacón
Aplysia dactylomela @ Islas Canarias by Aketza Herrero
Aplysia dactylomela @ Islas Canarias by Aketza Herrero
Aplysia dactylomela @ Croatia
Aplysia dactylomela (Coloración melánica) @ Canarias by Aketza Herrero
Aplysia dactylomela expelling defensive fluid @ Vouliagmeni, Greece by Δημήτρης Μπούκουρας
Aplysia dactylomela expelling defensive fluid @ Vouliagmeni, Greece by Δημήτρης Μπούκουρας
Aplysia dactylomela expelling defensive fluid @ Vouliagmeni, Greece by Δημήτρης Μπούκουρας
Aplysia dactylomela @ Gran Canaria by Pablo Samper
Aplysia dactylomela mating @ Sicily, Italy by Lara Orselli
Aplysia dactylomela mating @ Sicily, Italy by Lara Orselli
Aplysia dactylomela @ Eivissa, Spain by Joan Pereyra

Bibliography

    Alexander J, Valdés A. 2013. The Ring Doesn’t Mean a Thing: Molecular Data Suggest a New Taxonomy for Two Pacific Species of Sea Hares (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia, Aplysiidae). Pacific Science. 67(2):283–294. https://doi.org/10.2984/67.2.10.
    Azzurro E. 2016. New species in the Adriatic Sea: What todo, how to recognize them. A guide for small-scale and sport fishing. ISPRA (Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale. Available from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308724529.
    Bacallado JJ, Ortea J, Moro L, et al. 2008. Inventario de los moluscos de la marina de Arrecife, Lanzarote. Canarias Conservación.:1–32. Available from https://www.canariasconservacion.org/LA%20MARINA/DOC-16-Inventario%20de%20los%20moluscos%20de%20la%20marina%20de%20arrecife%202008.pdf.
    Baker B, Ratnapala L, Mahindaratne MPD, et al. 1988. Lankalapuol A and B: Two cis-eudesmanes from the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela. Tetrahedron 44(15):4695-4702.
    Ballesteros M, Madrenas E, Pontes M. 2016. Actualización del catálogo de los moluscos opistobranquios (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) de las costas catalanas. Spira. 6:1–28.
    Ballesteros M, Madrenas E, Pontes M. 2025. OPK - Opistobranquis. Available from https://opistobranquis.info/.
    Bezerra LEA, Silva JRF, Carvalho AFU, et al. 2006. Histological description of the ink gland of the tropical sea hare Aplysia dactylomela Rang, 1828. Acta Zoologica 87(3): 203-207.
    Bezerra LEA, Carvalho AFU, Barreira LA, et al. 2004. The relationship between seaweed diet and purple ink production in Aplysia dactylomela Rang, 1828 (Gastropoda : Opisthobranchia) from northeastern Brazil. Journal of Shellfish Research. 23(2):581–584. Available from ://WOS:000223925100032.
    Bielecki S, Cavignaux G, Crouzet JM, et al. 2011. Des limaces de rêve.
    Caballer M, Ortea J, Rivero N, et al. 2015. The opisthobranch gastropods (Mollusca: Heterobranchia) from Venezuela: an annotated and illustrated inventory of species. Zootaxa 4034 (2): 201–256.
    Caballer M, Narciso S, Rivero N, et al. 2022. Nudibranquios y otras babosas marinas de Venezuela. Caracas. Venezuela: Explora Ediciones.
    Camacho-Garcia Y, Gosliner T, Valdes A. 2005. Guía de Campo de las babosas marinas del Pacífico Este tropical. S.l.: California Academy of Sciences.
    Carefoot TH. 1991. Blood-glucose levels in the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela: Interrelationships of activity, diet choice and food quality. J. Exper. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 154(2):231-244.
    Carefoot TH. 1994. Effects of environmental stressors on blood-glucose levels in sea hares, Aplysia dactylomela. Mar. Biol. 118(4):579-583.
    Carefoot TH, Harris M, Taylor BE, et al. 1998. Mycosporine-like amino acids: possible UV protection in eggs of the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela. Marine Biology 130(3):389-396, illustration, table, graph.
    Cervera JL, Calado G, Gavaia C, et al. 2004. An annotated and updated checklist of the opisthobranchs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Spain and Portugal (including islands and archipelagos). Boletín Instituto Español de Oceanografía, 20 (1-4): 1-111. L.
    Çevik C, Gündoğdu S. 2016. Marine mollusca of Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Turkish Marine Research Foundation 43: 184-197.
    Çinar ME, Bilecenoglu M, Öztürk B, et al. 2011. An updated review of alien species on the coasts of Turkey. Mediterranean Marine Science, 12(2): 257-315.
    Crocetta F. 2011. Marine alien mollusca in Italy, a review. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2012, 92(6), 1357–1365. https://doi.org/10.1017/S002531541100186X.
    Crocetta F, Zibrowius H, Bitar G, et al. 2013. Biogeographical homogeneity in the eastern Mediterranean Sea - I: the opisthobranchs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Lebanon. Mediterranean Marine Science, Vol 14, no.2.
    Crocetta F, Renda W, Vazzana A. 2009. Alien mollusca along Calabrian shores of the Messina Strait area and a review of their distribution in the Italian seas. Boll. Malacol., 45: 15-30.
    D’Orbigny A. 1839. Mollusques, Echinodermes, Foraminifères et Polypiers recueillis aux Iles Canaries par MM. Webb et Berthelot et décrits par Alcide d’Orbigny. Mollusques. Paris: 117 pp.; 8 pls.
    De la Cruz-Francisco V, Ortigosa D, González González M. 2017. Primeros registros de babosas marinas (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) del Sistema Arrecifal Tuxpan, México, con ampliaciones de ámbito de distribución. Biodiversity and Natural History (2017) Vol. 3, No. 1, 15-23.
    Dimatteo T. 1981. The inking behavior of Aplysia dactylomela (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia): evidence for distastefulness. Mar Beh Physiol 7: 285-90.
    Dimatteo T. 1982. THE INK OF APLYSIA-DACTYLOMELA (RANG, 1828) (GASTROPODA, OPISTHOBRANCHIA) AND ITS ROLE AS A DEFENSIVE-MECHANISM. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 57(2–3):169–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-0981(82)90190-3.
    Dimatteo T. 1981. INVESTIGATION INTO INTERSPECIFIC ENCOUNTERS OF THE SEA HARE APLYSIA-DACTYLOMELA RANG, 1828 (GASTROPODA, OPISTHOBRANCHIA). Veliger. 24(1):72–75. Available from ://WOS:A1981LY66500013.
    Dimatteo T. 1980. INKING AS A DEFENSIVE-MECHANISM IN APLYSIA DACTYLOMELA (GASTROPODA, OPISTHOBRANCHIA). American Zoologist. 20(4):958–958. Available from ://WOS:A1980KV10500948.
    Estrada DM, Ravelo JL, Ruiz Pérez C, et al. 1989. Dactylomelol A New Class of Diterpene from the Sea Hare Aplysiadactylomela. Tetrahedron Let. 30(45):6219-6220.
    Fernández-Gil C, Boyra A, González JA, et al. 2013. Espécies marinhas de Cabo Verde. BIOTECMAR. 134 p.
    Furfaro G, Vitale F, Licchelli C, et al. 2020. Two Seas for One Great Diversity: Checklist of the Marine Heterobranchia (Mollusca; Gastropoda) from the Salento Peninsula (South-East Italy). Diversity. 12(12):171.
    González AG, Cataldo F, Fernandez J, et al. 1987. A New Trioxygenated Diterpene from the Mollusk Aplysia-Dactylomela. J NAT PROD (LLOYDIA) 50 6 1987 JNPRD Journal of Natural Products (Lloydia) 0163-3864 1158-1159.
    Goodheart JA, Ellingson RA, Vital XG, et al. 2016. Identification guide to the heterobranch sea slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Bocas del Toro, Panama. Marine Biodiversity Records. 9(1):56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41200-016-0048-z.
    Harmelin J-G, Cottalorda JM. 2016. Occurrence of the tropical Atlantic sea hare Aplysia dactylomela (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia) in the Ligurian Sea (Monaco, NW Mediterranean)  in  (Karachle et al., 2016 - New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records [March 2016]). Mediterranean Marine Science, 17/1, 2016, 230-252.
    Laverack MS. 1970. Responses of a receptor associated with the buccal mass of Aplysia dactylomela. Comp Biochem Physiol 33: 471-473.
    Lederhendler II, Herriges K, Tobach E. 1977. Taxis in Aplysia dactylomela (Rang, 1828) to water-borne stimuli from conspecifics. Anim Learn. Behav. 5:355-358.
    Lombardo A, Marletta G. 2024. A First Approach to the Marine Heterobranchia (Mollusca: Gastropoda) Fauna of Marettimo, Egadi Islands, MPA (Western Sicily, Mediterranean Sea). Coasts. 4:667–686. https://doi.org/10.3390/coasts4040035.
    Long SJ. 2006. Bibliography of Opisthobranchia 1554-2000. Bayside Books & Press, Tustin, CA, U.S.A. 672p.
    Macnae W. 1957. On the occurrence of Aplysia dactylomela and Aplysia oculifera in South Africa. So Afr J Sci 53(11): 289-292.
    Malaquías MAE. 2000. Additions to the knowledge of the opisthobranch molluscs of Selvagens Islands, SE Atlantic, Portugal. Arquipélago. supplement 2:89–97.
    Malaquias MA, Calado GJP. 1997. The malacological fauna of Salvage Islands - 1. Opisthobranch Molluscs. Bol. Mus. Mun. Funchal, 49(281): 149-170.
    Manousis T. 2024. The Marine Mollusca of Cyprus (by September 2024): an updated, systematic catalogue, documented with bibliographic and pictorial references. Xenophora Taxonomy. 45:26–54.
    Martínez Cueto-Felgueroso E. 1995. El orden Anaspidea (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia) en el Atlántico y Mediterráneo próximo: Revisión taxonómica y estudio de los metabolitos secundarios [Tesis Doctoral]. Oviedo, Spain: Universidad de Oviedo. 381 p.
    McDonald G. 2009. Bibliographia Nudibranchia. 2nd Online Edition, Annotated. 1072 pp  Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz. Available from http://escholarship.org/uc/item/8115h0wz.
    Melo VMM, Fonseca AM, Vasconcelos IM, et al. 1998. Toxic, antimicrobial and hemagglutinating activities of the purple fluid of the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela Rang, 1828. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 31(6): 785-791.
    Melo VMM, Duarte ABG, Carvalho AFFU, et al. 2000. Purification of a novel antibacterial and haemagglutinating protein from the purple gland of the sea hare, Aplysia dactylomela Rang, 1828. Toxicon 38(10): 1415-1427.
    Mienis HK. 2012. Monitoring the Invasion of the Eastern Mediterranean by Lessepsian migrants and other Indo-Pacific Molluscs. Haasiana, 6: 63-65.
    Mifsud C, Cachia C. 2011. New additions and corrections, with annotations, to the check-list of the marine mollusca of the Maltese islands. Triton 23: 10-18.
    Moles J, Mas G, Figueroa I, et al. 2017. As fast as a hare: colonization of the heterobranch Aplysia dactylomela (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Anaspidea) into the Western Mediterranean Sea. Cah Biol Mar. 58:341–345.
    Moro L, Bacallado JJ, Ortea JA. 2010. Babosas marinas de las islas Canarias. Actas VI Semana Científica Telesforo Bravo, Instituto de Estudios Hispánicos de Canarias. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.1168.2009.
    Moro L, Martín Esquivel JL, Garrido Sanahuja MJ, et al. 2003. Lista de especies marinas de Canarias (algas, hongos, plantas y animales). Consejería de Política Territorial y Medio Ambiente del Gobierno de Canarias. 248 p.

    Bibliography based on the works by Steve Long, 2006. Bibliography of Opisthobranchia 1554-2000 and Gary McDonald, 2009. Bibliographia Nudibranchia, with later updates from other resources.

Further reading

Cite this article as:

Ballesteros, M., Madrenas, E. & Pontes, M. (2012-2025) "Aplysia dactylomela" in OPK-Opistobranquis. Published: 15/05/2012. Accessed: 03/02/2025. Available at (https://opistobranquis.info/en/?p=365)