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Sea squirts

Molle Didemnum

Didemnum molle

Also known as: Barrel-shaped Tunicate, Colonial Ascidian, Colony Sea Squirt, Compound Ascidian, Golden Sea Squirt, Green Barrel Sea Squirt, Green Reef Sea Squirt, Green Tunicate, Green Urn Ascidian, Green Urn Sea Squirt, Molle Tunicate, Sea Squirt, Soft Sea Squirt, Tall Urn Ascidian, Tunicate, Urn Ascidian, Urn Sea Squirt

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Adult
1
@fishx6 · Challenger Bay - Great Barrier Reef, Australia · July 20091 / 11
01

Overview

Found in colonies, anchored to hard surfaces, of dead coral and rocks on shallow reefs.
They feed on suspended plankton and zooplankton.

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.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
spots
Body shape
urn

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 11
LIVES IN

Found in colonies, anchored to hard surfaces, of dead coral and rocks on shallow reefs.

RANGE
04

Adult photos 11

06

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classAscidiacea
    4. orderAplousobranchia
    5. familyDidemnidae
    6. genusDidemnum
    7. speciesDidemnum molle (Herdman, 1886)

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    07

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