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| This is not turd! |
Take a second look!
This nondescript blob is the seahare Dolabella auricularia. Commonly known as the blunt-end seahare or shoulder blade sea cat, this algae-eating seahare is popular for its use in the pharmaceutical industry. It is the source of dolastatin (Auristatin), a drug tested for treatment of some non-small cell cancers.
The importance of marine organisms used for pharmaceutical studies is discussed in this article.
This photo was taken by SeaLifeBase photo collaborator David Harasti of the Underwater Photo Gallery at the Swansea Bridge in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Written by:
Jeniffer Espedido
Research Assistant
The SeaLifeBase Project
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