2008 © Maxim Tabachnik
Spotted Sea Hare
This marine mollusk, Aplysia dactylomela , dwells in warm tidal pools and feeds on algae. Its soft body, marked by distinctive ring patterns, camouflages it against the rocky seabed. When threatened, it may release a purple ink cloud. These gentle herbivores play a vital role in coastal ecosystems by controlling algal growth.
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