Boltenia echinata (Linnaeus, 1767)

Description: This solitary ascidian is very inconspicuous and is usually overlooked. It is spherical in shape and covered with branched hairs which are very characteristic. It is brown in colour and usually covered with silt, which is trapped by the hairs. The siphons are short, and may be marked with red. Typically 10mm in diameter.

Habitat: Usually in moderately sheltered silty sites, very inconspicuous.

Distribution: A northern species, occurring around Scotland, throughout the Irish Sea, and north to the Arctic.

Similar Species: No other species has the distinctive hairs on the test.

Key Identification Features:

• Branched hairs of characteristic shape on test surface.
• Inconspicuous colour and rounded shape.

Distribution Map from BioMar data for Ireland - Google Earth map:  download this placemark (not got Google Earth installed?)

Distribution Map from NBN: JNCC MNCR data - Grid map National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.