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European sea squirt
Ascidian
European sea squirt
Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776)
WoRMS AphialID
103718
Sample IDs
HMSC174-00130 https://bench.boldsystems.org/index.php/MAS_DataRetrieval_OpenSpecimen?selectedrecordid=ATCAS005-23; Quoddy 192 https://bench.boldsystems.org/index.php/MAS_DataRetrieval_OpenSpecimen?selectedrecordid=ATCAS101-25; NSRAS25-196 https://bench.boldsystems.org/index.php/MAS_DataRetrieval_OpenSpecimen?selectedrecordid=ATCAS132-25
Collected
Southern Shore NS, Passamaquoddy Bay NB, from SCUBA-hand collection on rocks and a horse mussel bed, and hand collection from a floating dock fouling community, 1-19 m depth.
Distinguishing Features
• Form: ovoid, tall, and usually attached by short basal structure. Test firm but thin, translucent, and with rough finely papillated surface.
• Siphons: prominent; terminal fluted oral siphon and upwardly directed fluted atrial siphon.
• Branchial sac: without folds, many rows of straight stigmata, and papillae that do not project into the lumen.
• Gut: left of branchial sac, stomach with longitudinal folds.
• Gonads: ovary on left of gut loop and testes on both sides.
Habitat
Grows on hard substrates, often found in dense aggregations, typically in estuaries, in calm water with current and eutrophic, 0-90 m depth.
Geographic Range
Native to Europe from southern Norway to the Mediterranean and introduced to the northwest Atlantic from Connecticut to Maine, California, Argentina, South Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Fun Fact
This is an invasive species that spread by attaching itself to boats, aquaculture gear, and floating structures. It is especially good at colonizing harbours, marinas and shellfish farms.
Barcode Distribution
BIN matching Spain, UK, USA, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Canada, South Korea and Italy.
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