Clavelina robusta is a species of tunicate (sea squirt), in the genus Clavelina (the "little bottles"). Like all ascidians, these sessile animals are filter feeders.
Clavelina robusta | |
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Clavelina robusta (black and white in colour shown at the lower left of the image) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Subphylum: | Tunicata |
Class: | Ascidiacea |
Order: | Aplousobranchia |
Family: | Clavelinidae |
Genus: | Clavelina |
Species: | C. robusta
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Binomial name | |
Clavelina robusta |
Description
editThis species frequently occurs in dense clusters. It has large 2–4 cm cylindrical zooids. They generally range from black to dark blue to gray in colour, with individual zooids having fluorescent green, yellow, or white rings around both siphons.[2] The external cover has a firm basal matrix, and is somewhat transparent and soft.[3]
Distribution
editClavelina robusta is found, often in large colonies,[4] in the Western Pacific, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, and the Solomon Islands.[2]
References
edit- ^ WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Clavelina robusta Kott, 1990
- ^ a b Almost Us!? Sea Squirts, Tunicates, Ascidians, Subphylum Urochordata, Phylum Chordata pt 2
- ^ Allen, Gerald (2001), Marine Life of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Tuttle Publishing and Periplus (Singapore), p. 62
- ^ Allen, Gerald (2001), Marine Life of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Periplus (Singapore), p. 62