Colonial sea squirt Ascidiacia

There are several different species of colonial sea squirt, but they have the same thing in common, they form colonies which can sometimes look like just one animal!

Behaviour

Sea squirts start life as tadpole shaped larvae, and once they find a suitable spot to settle, they will metamorphise into adults and settle on hard substrate like rocks and algae. Sea squirts are filter feeders filtering out food in the form of plankton and detritus, using inhalant and exhalant siphons.

Size

This varies, but colonies ca be up to 30 cm in size.

Status

Distribution

When to see

All year.

Facts

Common name

Colonial sea squirt

Species name

Ascidiacia

When to see in Scotland

All year.

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