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Sea potato
Ascidian
Sea potato
Boltenia ovifera (Linnaeus, 1767)
WoRMS AphialID
103815
Sample IDs
HMSC174-00147 https://bench.boldsystems.org/index.php/MAS_DataRetrieval_OpenSpecimen?selectedrecordid=ATCAS012-23; Quoddy 141 https://bench.boldsystems.org/index.php/MAS_DataRetrieval_OpenSpecimen?selectedrecordid=ATCAS142-25; HMSC174_01997B https://bench.boldsystems.org/index.php/MAS_DataRetrieval_OpenSpecimen?selectedrecordid=ATCAS162-25;
Collected
Southern Shore NS, Western Isles NB, SCUBA-hand collection from boulders and bedrock wall, 12-22 m depth.
Distinguishing Features
• Form: oval-reniform with stalk 2-4 times body length. The test is leathery, smooth, wrinkled to spinose and fuzzy when young. It has a yellowish to bright pink-orange-red colouring.
• Siphons: square shaped• Branchial sac: 9-10 folds on each side and transverse stigmata.
• Gut: U-shaped.
• Gonads: 1 on each side, elongated, and lobed. The left gonad is inside the intestinal loop.
Habitat
On rocky seabeds and usually in areas with strong tidal currents, 7-500 m depth. Can be abundant in high current areas forming sea potato 'forests'.
Geographic Range
Arctic and North Atlantic.
Fun Fact
Lots of different animals and seaweeds grow on sea potatoes. Young cod are often found amongst sea potatoes, hiding from their predators. The sea potato’s Latin name ovifera means egg-shaped.
Barcode Distribution
BIN matching Canadian Atlantic.
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