Molle Didemnum
Scientific Name: Didemnum molle
Species: Ascidians (Didemnidae)
Other names: Tunicates, Sea Squirts, Colonial Ascidians, Compound Ascidians, Molle Tunicate, Golden Sea Squirt, Soft Sea Squirt, Urn Sea Squirt, Urn Ascidian
Some Images
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Molle DidemnumUploaded by: @fishx6 in July 2009
Photographed at: Challenger Bay - Great Barrier Reef - Australia
Caption: white urn shapes in middle of picture
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Molle DidemnumUploaded by: @fishx6 in July 2009
Photographed at: Flair Point - Coral Sea - Australia
Caption: No caption available
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Molle DidemnumUploaded by: @fishx6 in July 2009
Photographed at: Flair Point - Coral Sea - Australia
Caption: No caption available
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Molle DidemnumUploaded by: @fishx6 in July 2009
Photographed at: Fairy Grotto - Great Barrier Reef - Australia
Caption: No caption available
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Molle DidemnumUploaded by: @KitBrennan in July 2009
Photographed at: Fairy Grotto - Great Barrier Reef - Australia
Caption: No caption available
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Molle DidemnumUploaded by: @epic in July 2009
Photographed at: Challenger Bay - Great Barrier Reef - Australia
Caption: No caption available
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Molle DidemnumUploaded by: @fishx6 in August 2008
Photographed at: Lembeh Resort - Indonesia
Caption: No caption available
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Molle DidemnumUploaded by: @fishx6 in August 2008
Photographed at: Lembeh Resort - Indonesia
Caption: No caption available
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Description
Also known as Tunicates, Sea Squirts, Colonial Ascidians, Compound Ascidians, Molle Tunicate, Golden Sea Squirt, Soft Sea Squirt, Urn Sea Squirt and Urn Ascidian.
Found in groups in shallow sheltered water growing on dead coral.
They feed on suspended plankton and detritus.
Length - 3cm
Depth 1-20m
Widespread Indo-Pacific
These urn shaped ascidians have numerous and minute oral siphons.
Often confused with Didemnum robustum which has numerous bigger oral siphons.
They vary in colour from white, orange to bright green.
The green colour inside is the result of being inhabited by minute blue/green algae.
The Egyptian sea star - Gomophia egyptiaca and the Sea Snail - Gyrineum gyrinum prey upon this sea squirt. (edit)
Spotted
The Molle Didemnum is found in or near the Indo-Pacific region(s) and has been photographed 8 times by users @fishx6 @KitBrennan @epic
Related creatures
Many creatures change during their life. Juvenile fish become adults and some change shape or their colour. Some species change sex and others just get older. The following creature(s) are known relatives of the Molle Didemnum. Click the image(s) to explore further or hover over to get a better view!
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