The Ink fish, the sea hare, the sea slug,
the aplaysia, all one creature and one that makes its
appearance now for many too observe. We are seeing them
from our boating tours, some see them as they gaze to
the water from the shoreline or boat docks or the fishing
piers and some see them washed ashore. Once the sea
hare is on shore it lays there just a glob, oozing purple
ink. The ink will not hurt you but the sea hare does
use it for defense when being pursued as a meal. And
you wonder what would eat that unchewable gummy bear?
A cow nosed ray will. They will make a meal of it with
no problems. I often have wondered if the dolphins interact
with them or maybe use them as chewing gum! One day
alpha male Frosty actually brought one up in his mouth
right in front of our boat and made it ink by twicking
it with his teeth. Pretty neat to see.
The ink fish are on display at the Sealife Center and
range in size from baby ones to large adults. They move
along like sea cows and graze on greens. They have tiny
pin point dots for eyes and just barely remnants of
a shell left which they have evolved away from. They
are beautiful to look at up close as they remind me
of a starry night. They have a simple nervous system
which has prompted studies by various universities.
When you find these blobby sea creatures lying on the
beach, it is better to put them in a bucket and bring
them to the sealife center or release them on the bay
side from a dock. They can not swim back out the surf
against the waves and will just rewash ashore.
The life of the inkfish is spent mostly swimming and
grazing and laying eggs. At the end of the summer after
they have layed millions of strands of eggs they simply
disappear perhaps clinging down in the grasses no longer
having the urge to swim around to meet mates. They look
like angels swimming along in the bay and we always
are reminded of the season when they appear. Summer
is here |
