Dolabella auricularia

Dolabella auricularia, also known as the wedge sea hare, is a species of large sea slug, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Aplysiidae, the sea hares.

Dolabella auricularia
Dolabella auricularia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Clade: Euopisthobranchia
Clade: Anaspidea
Superfamily: Aplysioidea
Family: Aplysiidae
Genus: Dolabella
Species:
D. auricularia
Binomial name
Dolabella auricularia
(Lightfoot, 1786)

Description

Dolabella auricularia is a rather large species which can reach a length of 40 centimetres (16 in). It can be recognized by a flattened disk on the posterior surface of the animal. This species can be found with soft pustules, leading to a rather knob-like appearance.[1] It has a short, blunt head. Its body is covered with tubercles and skin flaps. The vestigial, internal shell has a typical ear-like form. Like all sea hares, it ejects a purple ink when disturbed.

Distribution

Dolabella auricularia can be found in the Indian Ocean and the western and NW Pacific. It is also present in the Philippines.[2]

Habitat

This sea hare lives in areas that are sheltered from rough currents. They will often hide in seagrass, sand and mud, feeding on algae. Intertidal rock pools are also a favoured place to live.[3]

Human uses

Dolabella auricularia is sometimes used by the keepers of large marine aquaria to limit algal growth in the tank. In the Philippines the eggs of the Sea Hare are eaten as a delicacy. This delicacy is called in the Philippines Lukot or Lokot.[4][5]

The anti-cancer agent monomethyl auristatin E is derived from peptides found in D. auricularia.[6]

References
  1. http://rfbolland.com/okislugs/dolaauri.html
  2. Calumpong et al., 1984. Growth, reproduction and mortality of the sea hare Dolabella auricularia (Gastropoda: Aplysiidae) in the Central Visayas, Philippines. Marine Biology 79, 289–293 (1984).
  3. Rudman, W.B., 1999 (April 1) Dolabella auricularia (Lightfoot, 1786). [In] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney.
  4. Top 10 Philippine Bizzare Delicacy
  5. http://www.marketmanila.com/archives/lukot-sea-hare-secretions
  6. Dosio, F.; Brusa, P.; Cattel, L. (2011). "Immunotoxins and Anticancer Drug Conjugate Assemblies: The Role of the Linkage between Components". Toxins. 3 (12): 848–83. doi:10.3390/toxins3070848. PMC 3202854. PMID 22069744.
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