Size

Colony height: 1.5cm (0.5") Colony width: 2-5cm (1-2")

Recognition Characters

Small colonial tunicates, often encrusting. Small ovoid or spherical individual zooids are attached by a vinelike stolon forming encrusting colony. Zooid branchial sac with four rows of long stigmata; over 20 in a row on each side.

Color

Test of tunic is usually translucent revealing emerald green zooids.

Habitat & Depth

Encrust other organisms such as sponges, other tunicates, hydroids, and bryozoans. Especially common in estuarine and harbor areas. Also hard bottoms, dead coral, rocks and shipwrecks. To 30m.

Distribution at GRNMS

Occasional. Can be found encrusting the base of sponges and gorgonians or on debris such as cans or pvc.

Geographic Range

Atlantic Coast from Massachusetts to South Florida. Parts of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Bermuda

Behavior & Notes

Synonyms

References

Plough 1978