TUNICATA : PHLEBOBRANCHIA : Perophoridae | SEA SQUIRTS |
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Perophora listeri |
Description: Colonies consist of large numbers of small transparent zooids connected by basal stolons. The branchial sac, orange-brown stomach and chains of grey faecal pellets can all be seen inside the zooid when it is alive. 5mm x 4mm x 2mm.
Habitat: Found in sheltered places from lower shore to 30m growing on a variety of substrata, especially on hydroids and bryozoans, even on crabs such as Hyas araneus.
Distribution: West coasts of the British Isles south to the Mediterranean.
Similar Species: There is no other common small ascidian in the British Isles with separate zooids connected by a stolon. See also Protostyela heterobranchia - description in Millar.
Key Identification Features:
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
Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2016). Perophora listeri Forbes, 1848. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZD1290 Accessed on 2025-02-08 |
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