TUNICATA : PHLEBOBRANCHIA : Ascidiidae | SEA SQUIRTS |
![]() |
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:
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). Ascidia virginea O F Müller, 1776. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZD1530 Accessed on 2023-12-08 |
Copyright © National Museums NI, 2002-2023 |