Botryllus schlosseri

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wikipedia:How to read a taxobox
How to read a taxobox
Botryllus schlosseri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Urochordata
Class: Ascidiacea
Order: Pleurogona
Family: Botryllidae
Genus: Botryllus
Species: B. schlosseri
Binomial name
Botryllus schlosseri
(Pallas, 1766)
Synonyms

Alcyonium schlosseri [1]

The "Golden Star Tunicate" Botryllus schlosseri is an invasive, colonial ascidian tunicate that grows on slow-moving, submerged objects, plants, and animals in nearshore saltwater environments.

Its range has spread over the last 100 years to a nearly worldwide extent. Ranging in the western Atlantic ocean from the Bay of Fundy to North Carolina, this is "the most commmon colonial tunicate in North America." [2] This species can be distinguished from Botrylloides sp. by the pattern of zooid growth. B. schlosseri zooids emanate from a center in the manner of the arms of a star. Also, there usually are fewer zooids per cluster (5-8 in B. schlosseri and 10 or more in Botrylloides).

[edit] External Link

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Botryllidae-Wikispecies. Retrieved on February 17, 2007.
  2. ^ Andrew J. Martinez (2003). Marine Life of the North Atlantic: Canada to New England. Aqua Quest Publications. Retrieved on February 17, 2007.

This category contains articles in the subphylum of urochordata - the tunicates.

 This ecology-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.