| TUNICATA : APLOUSOBRANCHIA : Clavelinidae | SEA SQUIRTS |
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Description: This sea squirt is small, only 2-3mm in size, solitary but in groups joined by creeping stolons.
Habitat: Usually in fairly strong tidal streams, attached to bedrock and wrecks, occasionally growing up hydroid and bryozoan colonies.
Ecology: The sea slug Colpodaspis pusilla has been observed possibly feeding on this species. The diet of Colpodaspis is unknown.
Distribution: Not uncommon in the Irish Sea and North Channel between Scotland and Rathlin Island. Also present in the North Sea and SW Ireland.
Similar Species: Quite easily recognised despite its small size because of the cross-shaped mark at the top of the test.
Key Identification Features:
Distribution Map from BioMar data for Ireland - Google Earth map: 
download this placemark (not got Google Earth installed?)
Distribution Map from NBN: JNCC MNCR Seasearch data - Grid map : Interactive map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.
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| Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C., 2010. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZD80 |
| Copyright © National Museums of Northern Ireland, 2002-2012 |