Tunicates

Stalked Tunicate (Boltenia ovifera) - Easy to identify, as this animal always lives on the end of a stalk attached to solid substrate. Color; pink to orange and white surfaces. Size; colonies to 8". Found in shallow water areas where there is a tidal current.

Sea Vase (Ciona intestinalis) - This pretty tunicate has 5-7 muscle bands that are visible through its' transparent test. It has 2 siphons. 8 lobed siphon (upper). Color of body, transparent, or whitish; rims of siphons - yellow. Size; height, 6", width, 1". Found on rocks, pilings and other solid surfaces in shallow water.

Sea Peach (Halocynthia pyriformis) - The Sea Peach is a large, barrel-shaped tunicate of which both siphons have 4 lobes. Color, orange and reddish yellow. Easy to identify in the field. Size; height 5", width; 3". Found on rocks pilings and other hard substrate from low tide line to 600'.

Golden Star Tunicate (Didemnum albidum) - Another introduced tunicate to our waters, probably brought over in the bilge of ships. This is an encrusting colonial tunicate and the most common in New England. Has loose rolls and lobes of various thickness. The zooids are outlined in yellow or white giving a star appearance. Color is variable - black, brown, purple, olive and yellow. Size of each "Star" section, 1/16", Colonies can grow up to 4" in size.

Red Sheath Tunicate (Botrylloides violaceus) - Red Sheath Tunicate is arranged in loose circles, rows, or dense clusters; bright orange or reddish or dull purple in color. Introduced from the Pacific. Overgrows other organisms. Size up to 5" across.

Club Tunicate, (white blob) & Red Sheath Tunicates (Ascidiella aspersa) - These tunicates are all invasive. The Club Tunicate is originally from Asia and is thought to have arrived here on the hull of ships. Tunicate is very warty, elongate and club-like in shape. Found in quiet waters on rocks and pilings, subtidally to 80'.

Ascidiella aspersa Tunicate is grayish to whitish with pink tinges. Introduced from Europe, the surface is rigid, gritty, elongated and attaches on the side. Size to 2".