• Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Subphylum: Tunicata
  • Class: Ascidiacea
  • Order: Stolidobranchia
  • Family: Styelidae
  • Scientific name: Dendrodoa grossularia
  • Norwegian: stikkelsbærsjøpung

Characteristics:

This is a solitary ascidian, but may appear in large groups. The body often takes an almost spherical shape. When elongated it forms a cylinder with a diameter of less than 1,5 cm. The height may reach 2 cm. The color is red, orange or brown. It has two short, but clearly visible siphons on the top.

Habitat:

It seems to prefer hard surfaces, but can be found on almost any substrate from the tidal zone and down to a depth of 600 metres.

Distribution:

It is widespread in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic.