Pycnoclavella stolonialis - Marine Life Encyclopedia

Pycnoclavella stolonialis Pérez-Portela, Goodwin, Picton & Turon, 2010

Pin-head Squirt

Pycnoclavella stolonialis

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.

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:

Transparent small solitary sea squirt
White pigment on area between the siphons forms a cross-shaped mark

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). Pycnoclavella stolonialis Pérez-Portela, Goodwin, Picton & Turon, 2010. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZD80 Accessed on 2024-12-05

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