Ascidiella aspersa

Ascidiella aspersa
Ascidiella aspersa habitus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Tunicata
Class:	Ascidiacea
Order:	Enterogona
Suborder:	Phlebobranchia
Family:	Ascidiidae
Genus:	Ascidiella
Species:	A. aspersa
Binomial name
Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776)
Synonyms[1]
Species synonymy  Ascidia aculeata Alder, 1863 Ascidia affinis Hancock, 1870 Ascidia albida Alder & Hancock, 1848 Ascidia aspersa Mueller, 1776 Ascidia cristata Risso, 1826 Ascidia elliptica Alder & Hancock, 1848 Ascidia expansa Kiaer, 1893 Ascidia minuta Kiaer, 1893 Ascidia normanni Alder & Hancock, 1870 Ascidia opalina Macgillivray, 1843 Ascidia patula Mueller, 1776 Ascidia pedunculata Hoffman, 1829 Ascidia pellucida Alder & Hancock, 1848 Ascidia pustulosa Alder, 1863 Ascidia scabra Mueller, 1776 Ascidia sordida Alder & Hancock, 1848 Ascidia triangularis Herdman, 1881 Ascidia truncata Herdman, 1881 Ascidiella cristata (Risso, 1826) Ascidiella pellucida (Alder & Hancock, 1848) Phallusia aspersa (Mueller, 1776) Phallusia cristata (Risso, 1826) Phallusia patula (Mueller, 1776)

Ascidiella aspersa is a species of solitary sea squirts native to the northeastern Atlantic, from the Mediterranean Sea to Norway. They possess oval bodies up to 50 to 130 mm (2.0 to 5.1 in) in length. Their branchial (or oral) siphons are conical and positioned at the top of the body. They possess six to eight lobes. The atrial siphons are located at the upper third of the side of the body and possess six lobes. The body is covered by a firm transparent test that is greyish to brown in color. The test often snag detritus that remain loosely attached to the animal. When expanded, at most 40 tentacles can be observed on the inside surface of the branchial wall. Both the openings of the branchial and atrial siphons possess lighter colored ridges on their rims. They may also be frilled at times. A. aspersa are attached to the substrates by the left side of their bodies. They can be found in dense groups of unfused individuals on hard surfaces like rocks. at depths of up to 90 m (300 ft).^[2][3][4][5]

A. aspersa closely resemble Ciona intestinalis, but can be distinguished by their lack of yellow markings around their siphons.^[2]

References

1. K. Sanamyan & C. Monniot (2011). Noa Shenkar, Arjan Gittenberger, Gretchen Lambert, Marc Rius, Rosana Moreira Da Rocha, Billie J Swalla & Xavier Turon, eds. "Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776)". Ascidiacea World Database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
2. B.E. Picton & C.C. Morrow (2010). "Ascidiella aspersa (O F Müller, 1776)". Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
3. Lisa Curtis (2005). "A sea squirt - Ascidiella aspersa". Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN). Retrieved February 6, 2012.
4. NIMPIS (2012). "Ascidiella aspersa (solitary ascidian)". National Introduced Marine Pest Information System. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
5. M.J. de Kluijver & S.S. Ingalsuo (2012). "Ascidiella aspersa". Macrobenthos of the North Sea - Tunicata. Maine Species Identification Portal. Retrieved February 6, 2012.