(Urdøya - Sør-Trøndelag / 23 meters / 3.21.2005)

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Tunicata

Class: Ascidiacea

Order: Aplousobranchia

Family: Polyclinidae

Scientific name: Synoicum incrustatum

 

Norwegian: -

Distribution: This small ascidian can be seen on hard rock faces on exposed location, usually well below the tidal zone. The distribution along the coast of Norway is uncertain.

Characteristics: The shape is spherical with a diameter less than 1 cm. There is a single exhalant and a larger number of smaller inhalant siphons. The animal is colorless and the colonies usually take a grey or pale brown color, depending on the environment. They are often clustered together in small colonies covering 10-100 cm².

All pictures: