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Sea Squirt, Colonial Ascidian (Distaplia sp.)

Scientific name:

Distaplia sp

Maori name:

Other names:

Ascidian, Colonial

Category:

Invertebrate

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Ascidiacea

Family:

Holozoidiae

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Common habitat(s):

Rocky Reef Subtidal

Rocky Shore Intertidal

Other information:

Feeding:

Filter Feeder

Distribution:

World Wide

Edibility:

Inedible

Size:

Shoulder width Sized

Identification:

A colonial sea squirt. It is a plum colour and forms lumps and mounds.

Habitat:

Found on rocks and under overhangs at low intertidal to subtidal.

Diet:

Filters tiny plankton out of the water.

Lifestyle:

It is often associated with other colonial sea squirts and sponges.

Notes:

References:

Gordon D. P. (ed) (2009) NZ Inventory of Biodiversity; Vol 1 Kingdom Animalia. Canterbury University Press.