aplysia

[Gr. ἀπλυσία ( aplusia ) = fil you r ; ἀπλυσίαι ( a plus i a i ), pl.; Lat. aplysia = a kind of sponge, so called from its dirty colour.] A genus of molluscs, the typical one of the family Aplyside. The species have an oblong convex flexible and translucent shell, with a posterior slightly incurved apex. The animals are oval, with four tentacles. They are called Sea-hares. They inhabit the laminarian zone of the sea, and when molested discharge a violet fluid. Tate, in 1875, estimated the known recent species at forty-two, with one or two more doubtfully identified from the Tertiary formation. Some of the former are British. a-ply-si-i-daæ, s . pl . [APLYSIA.] A family of molluscous animals, the third of the Tectibranchiate section of the Gasteropodous order Opistho-branch i at a. The shell is wanting or rudimentary, and the animal slug-like. It contains the genera Aplysia, Do labella, .