Abstract
The function of Inking in the sea hare, Aplysia fasciata (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Opisthobranchia), was investigated at the Stazione Zoologica of Naples. Behavioural observations were carried out under various experimental conditions in the laboratory, and suggested that in this species Inking may serve a “social”; function. In the presence of ink from a conspecific, tested animals significantly changed their behaviour, performing a series of avoidance patterns. This significantly differed from the spontaneous behaviour of Aplysia, as well as from the behaviour performed when it was exposed to coloured sea‐water. Animals did not exhibit avoidance when subject to ink from other molluscs (Octopus vulgaris), and weakly reacted to the ink from the congeneric A. depilans. Inking behaviour seems thus to exert an intra‐specific role, and ink may function as an alarm signal.
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