Transparent Ascidia – Rhopalaea idoneta

, Transparent Ascidia, Rhopalaea idoneta
Depth: 5 - 60 m

Afghanistan, Alaska, Algeria, Andaman and Nicobar, Andorra, Angola, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Arctic, Argentina, Ascension Islands, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores Islands, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Comoro, Congo, Cook Islands, Corsica Island, Crete Island, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Easter Island, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira Islands, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Moldvia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Saint Martin, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sardinia Island, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Sicily Island, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, US Minor Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf, Yellow Sea

The Transparent Ascidia, scientifically known as Rhopalaea idoneta, is a captivating marine invertebrate belonging to the tunicate family. These organisms exhibit a remarkable transparency, allowing for the visualization of their internal structures, contributing to their unique appeal.

Description & Characteristics

Rhopalaea idoneta is a solitary ascidian, typically measuring up to a few centimeters in length. Its translucent body allows for a clear view of its internal organs, including the digestive system and reproductive organs. The animal is characterized by a sac-like structure with two siphons, one for inhaling water and the other for expelling it. The siphons are located at opposite ends of the body, facilitating the efficient flow of water for feeding and respiration.

Habitat and Occurrence

The Transparent Ascidia, Rhopalaea idoneta, thrives in a variety of marine environments, particularly in the subtidal, sublittoral, and infralittoral zones. It can be found across a depth range extending from the lower limit of the intertidal zone to the shelf edge at approximately 200 meters. This extensive distribution within the neritic zone showcases the adaptability of Rhopalaea idoneta to diverse aquatic conditions.

Taxonomy

The Transparent Ascidia, Rhopalaea idoneta, is classified within the phylum Chordata, placing it among the diverse group of animals that possess a notochord at some point during their development. Rhopalaea idoneta belongs to the Class: Ascidiacea, a group characterized by their sessile lifestyle and filter-feeding habits. It is further classified within the Order: Aplousobranchia, a group known for their simple internal structures, and Family: Diazonidae, a family of tunicates.

Feeding

Rhopalaea idoneta is a filter feeder, relying on the constant flow of water through its body to obtain sustenance. It utilizes a mucus net to capture small organisms, including copepods and plankton, from the surrounding water. The mucus net traps the food particles, which are then transported to the mouth and ingested. This efficient feeding strategy allows Rhopalaea idoneta to thrive in its rich marine habitats.

Associated Species

Image References

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