Botrylloides

Botrylloides
Botrylloides leachi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Tunicata
Class: Ascidiacea
Order: Pleurogona
Family: Botryllidae
Genus: Botrylloides sp.
(Milne-Edwards, 1841)[1]

The "Chain Sea Squirts or Chain Tunicates" of the genus Botrylloides:

Morphologically similar to Botryllus schlosseri and similarly widespread, Botrylloides is distinguished by having linearly-arranged, parallel "chains" of zooids as opposed to zooids like white or yellow stripes emanating from a common center in Botrylloides.[2]

Like Botryllus, Botrylloides are flat sheets of organisms which can be found covering ropes, boat hulls, horseshoe crabs, seaweeds, and any still or slow-moving object in saltwater. Also both are relative invasive Ascidians, found in many ports around the world. Invasive tunicates such as these, Didemnum sp., and Styela clava are a problem for shellfish and other marine life populations, and cause fouling of boats and piers.

Species include

Botrylloides violaceus

Notes

  1. ↑ "Botryllidae-Wikispecies". Retrieved 2007-02-17.
  2. ↑ Owen Alger. "MarLIN - The Marine Life Information Network". The Marine Biological Association. Retrieved 2007-02-17.

External links