Kingdom Animalia Class Ascidiacea Genus Pycnoclavella Phylum Chordata Order Aplousobranchia | Subphylum Tunicata Family Pycnoclavellidae Scientific name Pycnoclavella diminuta Rank Species | |
Similar Clavelina robusta, Pycnoclavella, Clavelina coerulea, Clavelina moluccensis, Eusynstyela misakiensis | ||
Pycnoclavella diminuta, common names white-spotted sea squirt, white-spot ascidian, and white-spotted ascidian is a species of tunicate (sea squirt), in the genus Pycnoclavella. Like all ascidians, these sessile animals are filter feeders.
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Description
Pycnoclavela diminuta lives in colonies composed of small clusters of zooids that originate from a common stalk. Each zooid is approximately 0.5 to 1 cm in length. They are golden yellow-orange in colour and have white spots. The spots vary in shape and size, but are well defined, and are consistent throughout the colony.
This species can be confused with Clavelina flava, which may also have white spots. But Pycnoclavela diminuta can be differentiated in that the spots are always clearly defined and always constant.
Distribution
This species occurs in numerous locations, including:
Behaviour
Pycnoclavella diminuta is a sessile suspension feeder.
Habitat
This ascidian lives in depths from 5 to 20 metres in the benthic zone in caves and under ledges. It often occurs in environments with soft corals such as Dendronephthya and Scleronephthya.