Sea Hare

ID points

• Two pairs of tentacles on the head, the rear pair standing up like rabbit ears
• Broad fleshy flaps on the back that can be folded over
• Releases a cloud of purple ink when alarmed

Basics

Family

Aplysiidae

Length

10–30 cm

Depth

0-20 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic

Distribution

Shallow tropical reef flats and seagrass beds

Habitat

Shallow reef flats and seagrass beds

Diet

Algae

Easily confused with

Brittle StarFive slender arms clearly set off from the central discFlatheadHead extremely flat and broad, with the eyes on topLizardfishFlat lizard-like head with a very wide mouth

Fun fact

Sea hares are molluscs with no outer shell. When threatened one lets go a cloud of purple ink together with a white secretion that jams a predator's sense of smell and sight.