Notarchus
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 Notarchus punctatus
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Notarchus (Cuvier, 1817) is a taxonomic genus of sea slug or sea hare, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Aplysiidae, the sea hares.
The parapodia (fleshy winglike outgrowths) of Notarchus are almost completely fused, forming the parapodial cavity. There is no shell. They are able to swim by jet propulsion, through sucking in water through the small anterior opening of the parapodial cavity and then squirting water from the back of it. While doing so, they tumble and make a series of backward somersaults. In this unusual manner, they move quickly out of harm’s way over short distances.
[edit] Species
- Notarchus indicus Schweigger, 1820 : Indian Sea Hare
- Distribution : in shallow waters of NW Indian Ocean, NW Pacific, Mediterranean.
- Description : fine papillae scattered over the mantle; no armed penis; feeds on green alga Caulerpa.
- Notarchus punctatus Philippi, 1836
- Distribution : Japan, Indo-Chinese seas, Mediterranean.
- Length : 5 cm
- Description : penis with spines.
