WHATSTHATFISH
Sea squirts

Sea Squirts

Rhopalaea

Also known as: Colonial Ascidian, Compound Ascidian, Robust Sea Squirt, Stalked Ascidian, Tunicate, Zoids

Adult
@blogie · Bgy. Lidao, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines · January 20121 / 1
01

Overview

Found often in dense patches of cylindrical zooids, on drop-offs and walls of coral and rocky reefs.
They feed on plankton and detritus.
Height - ?cm
Depth - ?m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

Ascidian, also known as tunicates because their bodies are covered by a "tunic" a tough cellulose-like covering.
The other common name is sea squirt because when threatened they sometimes eject a jet of water.

02

How to identify

Body shape
tubes

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 1
04

Adult photos 1

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classAscidiacea
    4. orderAplousobranchia
    5. familyDiazonidae
    6. genusRhopalaea Philippi, 1843

    SourcesWoRMS

    06

    More in the family

    Aplousobranchia