PARBOABOA – Sea hare or jorunna parvais a group of snails (gastropods) which attracts the attention of researchers and marine biota enthusiasts.
Different from most gastropods Others, sea hares do not have a protective shell. However, its shape and color make this animal so unique.
Quoted from the book Nudibranchs and Cryptic Marine Fauna in the Sempu Straitby Anthon Andrimida (2023), the first discovery of a sea hare was made by a person zoologist Japan named Kikutaro Baba in the 1930s.
The characteristic of sea hares is that they often spend time silently at the bottom of the water. When they feel threatened, they have unique ways of avoiding danger.
They pump water into their bodies through a siphon and expel it slowly, similar to a balloon being inflated and then deflated.
This process allows sea hares to swim and move more freely in the water, allowing them to escape threats.
The following are the characteristics of sea hares, along with their classification, types, food, habitat and benefits for marine ecosystems.
Sea Hare Classification
Sea Rabbit (Photo: Pinterest/@jeanmarie.gradot)
The following is the scientific classification for Jorunna parva, including:
Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
Phylum: Mollusca (Mollusca)
Class: Gastropods (Snails)
Ordo: Nudibranchia (Nudibranchia)
Famili: Discodorididae (Discodorididae)
Genus: Jorunna
Species: Jorunna parva
Characteristics of Sea Rabbits
Quoted from the book Interactive BIOLOGY Kls.X IPAby Wijaya Jati (2007), here are some characteristics of sea hares:
1. Soft Body
Species Dorid Nudibranch This one is known to have a soft body and does not have a hard shell like most other snails. This is the difference from other snail species.
2. Body Size
Jorunna parva included in the category of small sea snails. Animals are known to have a body length of less than an inch. However, there are several types of large sea snails found in several places.
3. Adorable Appearance
One of the most striking characteristics of the Species Dorid Nudibranch is his cute and adorable appearance.
Their feathers are very numerous and their colors are very striking, such as white with black spots or other quite striking colors, making them attract the attention of researchers.
4. Tentacle-Like Organs
On top of the head of this marine animal is known to have organs that resemble tentacles called rhinophores. This organ functions as a sense of smell and helps sea slugs find food and interact with their environment.
5. Omnivore
Jorunna Parva is an omnivorous animal or eats everything, mainly eating types of sea sponges that contain toxins. However, this sea snail can eat small snails, sponges and plankton.
6. Diversified Habitat
Species Dorid Nudibranch can be found in a variety of coastal habitats, including corals, coral reefs, and kelp forests. And can be found in coastal waters between the Indian Ocean and the Central Pacific.
7. Reproduction with Eggs
These sea snails can reproduce by releasing eggs into the water, which then hatch into free-swimming larvae before becoming adult sea slugs.
8. Model Species in Research
Because it has a simple nervous system and physiological characteristics, Jorunna parva it has been used as a model species in scientific research, especially in studies of learning and memory.
9. The lifespan is too short
This species of sea slug is known to only have a very short average lifespan, where it can survive several months to a year. Because of their short lifespan, they must take advantage of the opportunity to mate or reproduce when they have time with their group.
Types of Sea Rabbits
Sea Rabbit (Photo: Pinterest/@9GAG)
Reported from the book Nudibranchs and Cryptic Marine Fauna in the Sempu Straitby Anthon Andrimida (2023), that Jorunna parva is a group of sea snails that includes several different species.
The following are some of the world’s famous sea snails, including:
1. Siput Laut Mini (Aplysia small)
Little Aplysia is one of the smallest types of sea slug in existence. They have short, well-proportioned bodies, with a much smaller size compared to the rest of the species Dorid Nudibranch other.
This mini sea slug has a body color that tends to be brown or black. The color can vary between individuals, but generally they have a fairly dark appearance.
The natural habitat is located in coastal waters and coral reefs. Often lives in areas close to the coast, where coral reefs and marine algae are abundant. Apart from that, it can be found in warm environments, such as waters
2. California Black Sea Snail (Aplysia vaccaria)
Giant sea rabbits are indeed impressive in size. They can reach a length of up to about 99 centimeters (cm) and weigh up to 14 kilograms (kg). And its appearance is very scary with its dark black or dark brown color which gives a scary impression.
Apart from that, what distinguishes giant sea rabbits is the presence of horns that are similar to alien horns. The horns are located on top of this sea animal’s head and give it a unique appearance.
3. Red Sea Snail (Aplysia dactylomela)
Species Dorid Nudibranch The characteristic is that it is red with black spots around its shell. This marine animal can generally be found in tropical waters and coral reefs. This marine animal has an attractive and striking appearance.
Their red color makes a striking impression in the coral reef environment. In addition, the black spots around the shell add to the beauty and uniqueness of this species. The spots are often scattered randomly or form interesting patterns.
4. Horsetail Sea Snail (Aplysia depilans)
Horsetail sea snails are known to have long and slender tails compared to other sea snail species. In addition, this marine animal has a brown or grayish color with white spots.
It is not surprising that it is called the horse-tailed sea snail because this animal is known to have a longer and slimmer tail compared to other species. This characteristic gives this animal a distinctive impression.
Apart from that, the body color is generally brown or grayish with white spots scattered along the body. This color combination gives an attractive appearance and helps this animal in camouflaging itself in its habitat.
5. Black Sea Snail (Aplysia fasciata)
Aplysia fasciata, is an interesting species of sea snail. They have a wide and flat body, with the dominant color tending to be black or dark.
Apart from black, this animal can also have a pattern of white or yellow stripes running across its body. This pattern can vary from one individual to another.
It can be found in coastal waters and rocky areas close to the water surface or often in areas rich in marine algae, its main food. This black sea snail has several unique adaptations.
One of them is an organ called “parapodia” located on the side of their body. These parapodia function as respiratory organs and also help.
6. Brown Sea Snail (Aplysia punctata)
Aplysia punctata is a type of sea snail that has a brown body with white or yellowish spots scattered along its body. The pattern of these spots can vary from one individual to another.
This sea snail is generally found in shallow waters that have rocky bottoms. They often inhabit coral reefs, rocky beaches, and other rocky areas around coastal waters.
The habitat chosen by Aplysia punctata provides access to abundant food sources, such as algae and other marine plants. This animal uses its spiny tongue to crawl and consumes algae as its main food source.
Sea Hare Food
Sea Rabbit (Photo: Pinterest/@Flickr)
Reported from the book Nudibranchs and Cryptic Marine Fauna in the Sempu Straitby Anthon Andrimida (2023), sea hares eat algae from the Padina and Enteromporpha types, and are known to eat seagrass from the Halophila type.
Algae of the Padina and Enteromorpha types are the main food source for sea hares. This algae-eating habit makes them an important part of the marine ecosystem, as they help control excessive algae growth in the marine environment.
Algae can grow exponentially and disrupt the balance of the ecosystem if there are no natural predators to control it.
Apart from eating algae, sea hares have also been recorded eating seagrass of the Halophila type. Seagrass is a marine plant that grows in shallow waters and plays an important role in maintaining water quality and coastal ecosystems.
Sea hares feeding on seagrass may be affecting seagrass populations in certain areas, and further research may be needed to understand their impact on these ecosystems.
Therefore, this species of sea slug really likes to hide in coral reefs or sunken ships that have been at sea for a long time.
Usually there are seas that have solar power nudi which usually have symbiosis with algae and photosynthesize to produce sugar (glucose) which is the food of these sea snails.
Sea Hare Habitat
Species Dorid Nudibranch live in various aquatic habitats throughout the world. In fact, it is usually found in coastal waters close to land, such as rocky beaches, seagrass beds and river estuaries. Apart from that, these sea snails can also be found on islands and islands scattered in the ocean.
However, in general these marine animals can also be found in most marine waters and throughout the National Marine Sanctuary System including Channel Islands National Sanctuary, Monterey Bayand Florida Keys. California brown sea hare (Aplysia californica) is especially abundant around the California Coast as its name suggests. Or more precisely in the coastal waters between the Indian Ocean and the Central Pacific.
Benefits of Sea Rabbits
Many of us must be wondering whether sea hares can be eaten? The answer is no because these sea snails are poisonous, so humans should avoid eating them at all costs.
However, despite their poisonous properties, marine animals have important benefits for humans. The ink produced by sea snails, if used in the right dosage, has potential as a drug in the treatment of cancer.
Because the ink from sea snails contains antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, and has potential as an anti-cancer agent. Therefore, it is important to emphasize that further research is needed into the use of sea snail ink as a medicine, and the correct dosage must be ensured so that it does not cause negative side effects.
Utilizing the medicinal properties contained in sea snail ink could provide significant benefits in the development of cancer treatments in the future.
That is the complete discussion about sea hares, complete with characteristics, morphology, types, food and habitat as well as their benefits.
2023-10-18 08:22:36
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