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Home > Invertebrates
> Tunicates
Updated 12/21/2022
Phylum Urochordata
Tunicates
or Sea Squirts
| Sea Squirts are filter-feeding animals that are abundant in all
oceans, attached to firm surfaces or drifting as zooplankton (salps).
They range from single animals, colonies of individuals, to compound
forms within a common tunic. Larvae possess a notochord therefore they are
related to vertebrates. They may be distinguished from sponges
because of the tough outer skin or tunic. Most are difficult to
identify beyond family or genus. Since these attach and grow
rapidly many species have spread around the world via ships, becoming
invasive and dominate harbor ecosystems. |
HAWAII - ENDEMIC
| Aplidum
crateriferum
CRATERED TUNICATE
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INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
| Didemnum spp.
COMPOUND TUNICATE
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Eudistoma
spp.
SAND TUNICATE
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| Botryllus spp.
FLOWER TUNICATE
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Diazona
spp.
DIAZONA
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| Aplidum
spp.
APLIDIUM
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Herdmania momus
HERDMAN'S SEA SQUIRT
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Distaplia spp.
SPOKED WHEEL TUNICATE
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Pyrosoma atlanticum
PYROSOME
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| Benthic
species
SPECIES NOT IDENTIFIED
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Pelagic species
SALPS
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INDO-PACIFIC
| Didemnum
molle
GREEN BARREL SEA SQUIRT |
Atriolum
robustum
GREEN SEA SQUIRT |
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Lissoclinum patella
GREEN VALLEY TUNICATE |
Clavelina robusta
CAT EYE TUNICATE |
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Polycarpa aurata
GOLDEN SEA SQUIRT |
Perophora namei
BLUE BELL SEA SQUIRT |
| Didemnum
spp.
COMPOUND TUNICATE |
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NORTHEAST PACIFIC
| Cnemidocarpa fismarkiensis
SOLITARY TUNICATE
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