Ascidia virginea O F Müller, 1776

Ascidia virginea

Description: This solitary ascidian is rectangular in shape and attached by a small area of the base. The test is clean and pale pink or milky white in colour. The oral siphon is terminal and the atrial siphon is 1/4 of the way down the side of the body. The test is firm and thick, and collapses little on collection. 60mm tall x 30mm wide.

Habitat: Commonest on rocky substrata in sheltered or semi-exposed silty conditions.

Distribution: Widespread around the British Isles, commoner in the north.

Similar Species: Other ascidians with clean tests include Corella parallelogramma and Ciona intestinalis but this species is distinctive in shape and has a more opaque test.

Key Identification Features:

• Clean, smooth, thick test.
• Pink, or milky white colouration.
• Size and shape.

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