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Sea Squirt, European

Ascidiella aspersa

Invertebrate

Chordata

Ascidiacea

Ascidiidae

Rocky Reef Subtidal
Rocky Reef Subtidal
Rocky Shore Intertidal
Rocky Shore Intertidal
Soft Bottom Subtidal
Soft Bottom Subtidal
Sandy/Muddy Shore Intertidal
Sandy/Muddy Shore Intertidal

Feeding:
Filter Feeder
Filter Feeder
Distribution:
World Wide
World Wide
Edibility:
Rarely Eaten
Rarely Eaten
Size:
Hand Sized
Hand Sized



This sea squirt has a clear tunic (body covering) and smooth siphons. Water is inhaled through the upper siphon.


Found on rocky shores and on man made structures such as jetty pilings. It can tolerate low salinity water and so is found in estuaries.


Filter feeds on organic material in the water.


Invasive from the Northern Atlantic, came into NZ on the hulls of ships.