Sooty Sea Hare

An FWRI biologists came upon two marine gastropods known as a Sooty Sea Hare (Aplysia brasiliana), while out in the seagrass flats of Tarpon Key.
Called a sea hare for the pair of tentacles (rhinophores) on their head that resemble the ears of a hare. They breathe with the help of two fleshy flaps that extend over their back and create currents to force water over the gills.
As plant eaters, they have a sucker-like mouth and use three stomachs, two of which have grinding “teeth” inside. Their color corresponds with the color of the seaweed they eat and if threatened, sea hares can release a cloud of bright purple ink.
These gastropods are hermaphrodites - a single sea hare can lay up to 500 million eggs during one breeding season!