Stylocheilus
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| Stylocheilus Conservation status: Secure | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Stylocheilus (Gould, 1852) is a genus of sea hares, belonging to the family Aplysiidae. According to some authors it belongs in the family Dolabriferidae.
A more general description can be found on the page of the superfamily Aplysioidea.
- Stylocheilus longicauda Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 : Blue-ring Sea Hare, Lemon Sea Hare (used to be called Stylocheilus citrina)
- Distribution : circumtropical, Indo-West Pacific.
- Color : bright yellow or green with bluish eyespots, no lines.
- Description : This is one of the most specialized sea hares; elongate body with a long "tail" (as stated by its name longicauda), adapted for living on floating seaweed; feeds on Mermaid's hair, blue-green algae of species Lynghya majuscula; at times, they are abundant, with several thousands crawling in the sand, traveling in chains ("snail trail") up to 10 m long
- Stylocheilus striatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1832
- Distribution : circumtropical; intertidal, occurs up to 30 m depth
- Length : 65 mm
- Color : brownish, with blue spots; lined species, with dark longitudinal lines (as stated by its name striatus) and small eyespots, providing excellent camouflage.
- Description : Feeds on blue-green algae; gives off a purple ink when disturbed.
External links
- Image of the Blue-ring Sea Hare (http://www.geocities.co.jp/NatureLand-Sky/8447/021112M.htm)
- 'Snail trail' of the Blue-ring Sea Hare (http://www.turtles.org/special/snailtrail1990813pm.jpg)
- Image of Stylocheilus striatus (http://www.philippine-sea-slugs.com/ANASPIDEA/Stylocheilus_striatus_01.htm)
