Polycera hummi Abbott, 1952

Sea Slugs are gastropod mollusks that rely on chemical substances rather than on a shell for protection. The Sea Slug Polycera hummi Abbott, 1952, may reach about 20 mm (a little less than an inch). The species was named in 1952 by Shell Museum's Founding Director R. Tucker Abbott, and the animal in the photo was collected by our Marine Biologist Rebecca Mensch on Sanibel (on stranded sea weed) during the last week of January [2015]. This species may be found from North Carolina through Florida and the Gulf. This is the first time the species is found on Sanibel Island.

Polycera hummi Abbott, 1952, head on the left side of the animal. Photo by José H. Leal.

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