Bursatella

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Bursatella
Bursatella leachii
Bursatella leachii
Conservation status
Secure
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Opisthobranchia
Suborder: Anaspidea
Superfamily: Aplysioidea
Family: Aplisiidae
Genus: Bursatella
Species: B. leachii
Binomial name
Bursatella leachii
Blainville, 1817

Bursatella (de Blainville, 1817) is a circumtropical genus of sea hares, occurring near coastal areas in the Indo-West Pacific and the Mediterranean.

There is only one species Bursatella leachii, or the Ragged Sea Hare or Shaggy Sea Hare. Its color is green to greenish brown, and its length is up to 15 cm but usually between 5 and 10 cm.

The Bursatella leachii has a broad and short head. Its mantle is covered with papillae (finger-like outgrowths), which give it a thorny aspect. The mantle has a network-like pattern with blue eyespots (ocelli) in black spots and green areas. It moves slowly on a broad foot. There is short, sharp tail. The short parapodia (fleshy, winglike outgrowths) are fused on their rear end.

A more general description of the sea hares can be found on the pages of superfamily Aplysioidea and the suborder Anaspidea.

Bursatella leachii live in the intertidal zone.

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