Lissoclinum perforatum (Giard, 1872)

Lissoclinum perforatum

Description: This ascidian forms compact, neat, white colonies on hard substrata, usually rock. The edges of the colony are smoothly rounded and the surface smooth. The regularly scattered inhalant pores are larger than those of Didemnum and the exhalant pores are regularly placed and have a raised rim. 4mm thick x 25mm across.

Habitat: A common ascidian in the sublittoral around the British Isles. Particularly characteristic of exposed infralittoral sites and places with strong tidal streams.

Distribution: Widespread at least on western coasts of the British Isles.

Similar Species: Can easily be confused with other white didemnids such as Didemnum maculosum.

Key Identification Features:

• Bright white opaque sheets with smoothly rounded contours.
• Large zooids giving a more open texture than Didemnum species.

Distribution Map: NBN map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

WoRMS: Species record : World Register of Marine Species.

iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database