Abstract
1) Ink from the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela was examined to determine its possible role as a defensive mechanism by being distasteful to potential predators. 2) Feeding experiments were set up to determine the acceptance or rejection of various sections of Aplysia dactylomela and pieces of local baitfish (Mugil curema) containing Aplysia ink, to a population of laughing gulls (Larus atricilla). 3) Feeding experiments showed that Aplysia dactylomela ink was distasteful to laughing gulls. The gulls would reject pieces of baitfish which had been thoroughly coated with ink. The rejection rates by the gulls for baitfish injected with the ink was higher than the rejection rates towards certain parts of Aplysia, including those known to contain toxic material.
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