Sea tulip
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Sea tulip |
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Pyura spinifera |
Sea tulips are sessile ascidians that live in coastal waters at depths of up to 80 m (260 feet). Like all ascidians, sea tulips are filter feeders. Their common name comes from their appearance - that of a knobbly 'bulb' or flower attached to a long stalk. Sea Tulips come a variety of colours, including white, pink, yellow, orange, and purple. The colouration of sea tulips depends upon their association with a symbiotic sponge that covers their surface.
Despite their common name, sea tulips are animals and not plants.