Aplysiida

Aplysiida
Aplysia californica, a typical sea hare displaying inking behavior
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Infraclass: Euthyneura
Subterclass: Tectipleura
Order: Aplysiida
P. Fischer, 1883
Families
Synonyms
  • Anaspidea
  • Aplysiomorpha

The order Aplysiida, commonly known as sea hares (Aplysia species and related genera), are medium-sized to very large opisthobranch gastropod molluscs with a soft internal shell made of protein. These are marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamilies Aplysioidea and Akeroidea.

The common name "sea hare" is a direct translation from Latin: lepus marinus, as the animal's existence was known in Roman times. The name derives from their rounded shape and from the two long rhinophores that project upward from their heads and that somewhat resemble the ears of a hare.