The White Spotted Sea Squirt – Pycnoclavella diminuta is a small, colonial tunicate belonging to the family Clavelinidae. These sea squirts are characterized by their distinctive white spots and their ability to form colonies of numerous individuals. They are a common sight in coastal waters around the world, contributing to the diversity of marine ecosystems.
Description & Characteristics
The Pycnoclavella diminuta is a small, colonial tunicate that can reach a maximum size of a few centimeters. Each individual in a colony is typically white or pale pink in color and possesses a distinctive white spot. The colonies themselves can vary in size and shape, often resembling small, branching structures.
Habitat and Occurrence
The White Spotted Sea Squirt – Pycnoclavella diminuta is found in a variety of marine habitats, including rocky outcrops, rock ledges, underwater caves, and underwater caverns. They are particularly abundant in the subtidal, sublittoral, and infralittoral zones, which extend from the lower limit of the intertidal zone to the shelf edge at about 200 meters water depth. The Pycnoclavella diminuta thrives in the neritic zone, a marine environment characterized by its relatively shallow waters.
Taxonomy
The Pycnoclavella diminuta belongs to the Class: Ascidiacea, Order: Aplousobranchia, and Family: Clavelinidae. These taxonomic classifications highlight its close relationship with other tunicates and its unique characteristics within the family Clavelinidae.
Feeding
The White Spotted Sea Squirt – Pycnoclavella diminuta is a filter feeder, relying on the constant flow of water to bring food particles to its mouth. They primarily consume small organisms like copepods and plankton, which they filter out of the surrounding water. This suspension feeding strategy allows them to effectively extract nutrients from the water column.
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