Aplysia gigantea
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Clade: | Euopisthobranchia |
| Clade: | Anaspidea |
| Superfamily: | Aplysioidea |
| Family: | Aplysiidae |
| Genus: | Aplysia |
| Species: | A. gigantea
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| Binomial name | |
| Aplysia gigantea Wells, 1986
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aplysia gigantea is a species of sea slug, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Aplysiidae. The species was first described in the Journal of the malacological Society of Australia in 1869. [1]A. gigantea is also known more commonly as the sea hare due to their posterior chemosensory tentacles resembling a hare's ear.[2] A. gigantea is the largest known species in Australia of the opisthobranch genus. [3] The species is known to have toxic effects on terrestrial organisms, particularly domestic dogs.[4] Exposure to this species with dogs has been associated with the development of neurotoxicosis, with symptoms ranging from respiratory distress to tremors, muscle fasciculations, and seizures. [4]
Aplysia gigantea are commonly found near the southwestern corner of Western Australia, in soft sediment or reef.[2] They are found in shallow water, ranging from 0-20m in depth.[2] A. gigantea are most commonly witnessed from January to March and it is not uncommon to witness beach strandings of this species numbering in the hundreds. [3] A. gigantea are found most often in waters that range from 13.1-23.2°C. [2] The species has not yet been assessed by the IUCN, and thus its conservation status remains unknown.[1]
A. gigantea are known to be able to grow up to 60cm long, making it one of the largest species of sea hare in Australia.[2] They are usually a dark brown or black color. Additionally, they are distinguished by large paradopia on their backs, which function as limbs allowing for swimming for short periods of time. [2] The species also has scent and taste receptors known as rhinophores, located on the dorsal surface of its head. [4] These organs resemble a hare's ears and are responsible for it's more colloquial name of sea hare. The sea hare's eyes are also located beneath the rhinosphores, and are able to sense light and shadow. [3] The organism's gills, as well as an internal, calcified shell is also present, and are located in close proximity to the its heart. [4] The shell itself is particularly fragile, and the paradopia serve a secondary function in both enclosing and protecting it. [4] The adults of this species are also herbivorous in nature, with a diet that primarily consists of algae. [1]
A. gigantea is able to produce inks and secretions from two main secretory glands that render hidden or toxic to predators. [5] When ingested by domestic dogs, several symptoms have been recorded, including respiratory issues, ptyalism, emesis, ataxia, and hyperaesthesia. [4] It is suggested that the sea hares' diet of red algae provides the molecules needed to create toxins. [2]
A. gigantea mate during summer and early autumn.[2] A. gigantea are hermaphrodites and often mate in numbers ranging from 2 to around 20, and produce orange colored spawn. [2] In these mating groups, one individual will utilize only female or male reproductive organs respectively, while other participants use both. [2]The eggs produced by A. gigantea are in long and stringy clumps, and hatch into planktonic larvae which feed on microscopic algae. [3]
- Wells, Fred E. "A Redescription of the Sea Hare Aplysia Gigantea Sowerby, 1869." Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia 7.3-4 (1986): 173-78. Web.
- Rudman, W. B. (2010-07-15). "The Sea Slug Forum - Aplysia gigantea". www.seaslugforum.net. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
- .Bebbington, A., 1977. Aplysiid species from eastern Australia with notes on the Pacific Ocean Aplysiomorpha (Gastropoda, Opistobranchia). Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond. 34 1: 87-147.
- Peacock, R E, G. Hosgood, K L Swindells, and L. Smart. "Aplysia Gigantea Toxicosis in 72 Dogs in Western Australia." Australian Veterinary Journal 91.7 (2013): 292-295. Web.
- Brook, J., Peters, K., Bryars, S., Owen, S., Hicks, J., Miller, D., Easton, D., Eglington, Y., Meakin, C. and Brock, D., 2020. Subtidal Reef Health Program: Baseline status of subtidal reefs and associated biodiversity patterns in the AMLR region.
- Moroz, L.L., 2011. Aplysia. Current biology: CB, 21(2), p.R60.
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- ^ a b c Wells, Fred E. (1986-01). "A redescription of the sea hare Aplysia gigantea Sowerby, 1869". Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia. 7 (3–4): 173–178. doi:10.1080/00852988.1986.10673985. ISSN 0085-2988.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j jurisdiction=New South Wales; corporateName=Australian Museum; author=Rudman, W. B. (2006-01-09). "The Sea Slug Forum - Home". www.seaslugforum.net. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d Bebbington, Alan (2010-07-08). "Aplysiid species from Eastern Australia with notes on the Pacific Ocean Aplysiomorpha (Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia)". The Transactions of the Zoological Society of London. 34 (1): 87–147. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1977.tb00373.x. ISSN 0084-5620.
- ^ a b c d e f Peacock, RE; Hosgood, G; Swindells, KL; Smart, L (2013-06-20). "Aplysia giganteatoxicosis in 72 dogs in Western Australia". Australian Veterinary Journal. 91 (7): 292–295. doi:10.1111/avj.12074. ISSN 0005-0423.
- ^ Moroz, Leonid L. (2011-01). "Aplysia". Current Biology. 21 (2): R60–R61. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2010.11.028. ISSN 0960-9822.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)