The Blue Bell Sea Squirt, scientifically known as Perophora namei, is a fascinating marine invertebrate belonging to the tunicate family. This small, colonial organism is often found in a variety of marine environments, showcasing its adaptability and resilience.
Description & Characteristics
The Blue Bell Sea Squirt, Perophora namei, is a colonial tunicate, forming clusters of small, bell-shaped individuals known as zooids. These zooids typically range in size from a few millimeters to a centimeter in diameter. Their transparent, gelatinous bodies are often tinged with a faint blue hue, giving them their common name. Each zooid possesses two siphons: an incurrent siphon for drawing in water and an excurrent siphon for expelling waste.
Habitat and Occurrence
The Blue Bell Sea Squirt, Perophora namei, thrives in a wide range of marine environments. It is commonly found in the subtidal, sublittoral, and infralittoral zones, which encompass the areas extending from the lower limit of the intertidal zone down to the shelf edge at approximately 200 meters depth. This species is a common inhabitant of neritic zones, the shallow waters extending from the shoreline to the edge of the continental shelf. Their ability to adapt to diverse conditions contributes to their widespread distribution.
Taxonomy
The Blue Bell Sea Squirt, Perophora namei, belongs to the Class Ascidiacea, which encompasses a diverse array of sea squirts. This class is further divided into various orders, with Perophora namei being a member of the Order Phlebobranchia, characterized by their simple, unbranched gill slits. Within this order, it is classified under the Family Perophoridae, a group distinguished by their colonial nature and the presence of stolons, connecting branches that link the individual zooids together.
Feeding
The Blue Bell Sea Squirt, Perophora namei, is a filter feeder, relying on microscopic organisms suspended in the water column for sustenance. They draw in water through their incurrent siphon, filtering out plankton, algae, and other small particles. These captured food items are then digested, providing the necessary nutrients for their growth and survival. Their filter-feeding mechanism plays a crucial role in maintaining water quality and contributing to the overall health of the marine ecosystem.
Image References