The sea hare releases its ink, which gets stuck on the lobster’s antennules, clogging its sense of smell. The team then ran similar experiments with a chemical called carboxymethylcellulose, ...

Sea hare ink serves two purposes. One is the obvious shroud of shadowy liquid that acts as a smoke screen to confuse a predator. The other is an antipredator chemical component.

Unlike ink released by a defensive squid, sea hare ink doesn’t blind or visually distract. It interferes with other senses, says Kamio, who did the work while at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

A sea hare’s only defense is to release a bright magenta ink. Though harmless to humans — except for the possibility of staining one’s skin or clothes — is it a deterrent against its main ...

A sea hare’s only defense is to release a bright magenta ink. Though harmless to humans — except for the possibility of staining one’s skin or clothes — is it a deterrent against its main ...

The sea hare secretes a slimy, purple ink that’s a mix of ink and opaline; a 2010 study showed that the substance makes food less palatable to predators.

Sea hares are significantly larger than a typical sea slug with upper-head tentacles and an internal shell. They can release ...

The Sea Hare is often dubbed a ‘sea slug’ or ‘ink fish’. The species, which can grow up to 40cm long, camouflages themselves as rocks to stay safe from other animals eating them.

Just one sea hare can lay 500 million eggs in a single breeding season. The creatures aren’t toxic for humans, if handled, but Leal said beachgoers should keep a close eye on their pets.