| red bait | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Tunicata |
| Class: | Ascidiacea |
| Order: | Pleurogona |
| Suborder: | Stolidobranchia |
| Family: | Pyuridae |
| Genus: | Pyura |
| Species: | P. stolonifera (Heller, 1878) |
| Binomial name | |
| Pyura stolonifera |
|
Pyura stolonifera, commonly known in South Africa as red bait or rooi aas and in Australia as cunjevoi, is a sessile ascidian, or sea squirt, that lives in coastal waters[1].
This species is found around the South African coast from Namibia to Durban, and around the Australian coast south from Shark Bay, Western Australia, around to Noosa Heads, Queensland, as well as Tasmania[2]. It is found from the shallow subtidal zone to at least 10m underwater.
In Australia, the species is known as cunjevoi, or colloquially "cunjie", though the name also refers to two rainforest plants[3] It was a common food source for the local Aboriginal people, but is now used mainly as fishing bait.[4] It is a protected species in some parts of Sydney Harbour.[3]
Pyura stolonifera is a very large solitary ascidian. It can grow to well over 15 cm in height. It has a thick pale exterior or 'tunic' which has a wrinkled brown covering. It has large inhalant and exhalant siphons with slightly scalloped edges, usually set close together. It is usually thickly covered with encrusting organisms.