Description: This sea hare grows up to 20 cm. The body colour is variable, ranging from olive green to brown, red or purplish black, with blotches of grey, white and often with black or brown spots and veining. The body is long and narrow and the parapodia join rather high posteriorly.

Habitat: Found amongst algae on the lower shore and in shallow water to the limit of algal growth. Their colour often matches the predominant algae in the area, from red to brown to green.

Distribution: Found on all coasts of Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Unlikely to be confused with any other species. There are two larger sea hares which may occasionally occur in southern England, Aplysia fasciata and Aplysia depilans.

Key Identification Features:

• Distinctive head shape with rolled tentacles.
• Back with two folds which are enclosing a thin shell.

Distribution Map from NBN: Aplysia punctata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Aplysia punctata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Aplysia punctata

WoRMS: Aplysia punctata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Aplysia punctata (Cuvier, 1803). AphiaID: 138758.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Gastropoda; Heterobranchia; Euthyneura; Tectipleura; Aplysiida; Aplysioidea; Aplysiidae; Aplysia