• Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Subphylum: Tunicata
  • Class: Ascidiacea
  • Order: Stolidobranchia
  • Family: Styelidae
  • Scientific name: Botryllus schlosseri
  • Norwegian: kolonisekkedyr

Characteristics:

These colonial sea squirts form 2-4 mm thick sheets. The zooids (animals) are positioned in star shaped formations. In the center of each star there is a common cloak siphon (opening). Each formation includes between 6 and 12 individuals. The color may vary, but white or pale yellow stars on a brown background is common.

Habitat:

These beautiful formations encrust hard surfaces or algae, from the intertidal zone and down to 40 metres depth.

Distribution:

It is widespread in the Atlantic Ocean, on both hemispheres.