Dolabella (genus)
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 Dolabella auricularia
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Dolabella (Lamarck, 1801) is a genus of sea hares, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Aplysiidae, the superfamily Aplysioidea and the order Anaspidea.
For more information please also see: Sea hare, Aplysiidae, Aplysioidea.
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[edit] Description
In the sea hares of the genus Dolabella the back end of the body has turned into a slanted disc-like shield, with a large, calcified shell buried inside. The color is variable, with specks of green and brown.
There are fossil records of † Dolabella aldrichi from the Early Miocene, found in the Chipola Formation in Florida [1]
[edit] Species within the genus Dolabella
- Dolabella auricularia Lightfoot, 1786 or Wedge Sea Hare
- Distribution : Indian Ocean, Western and NW Pacific.
- Length : 50 cm
- Description : short, blunt head; body covered with tubercles and skin flaps; the inner shell has a typical earlike form; gives off purple ink when disturbed; hides under rocks during daytime; crawls around on seagrass beds at night, feeding on algae; unarmed penis.
- Dolabella gigas Rang, 1828
- Distribution : Indian Ocean.
- Description : The internal shell has a saucer-shaped extension; armed penis
