The Yellow Sea Squirt – Ciona edwardsi is a species of tunicate belonging to the family Cionidae. It is a common and widespread marine invertebrate found in coastal waters around the world.
Description & Characteristics
The Yellow Sea Squirt – Ciona edwardsi is a solitary tunicate that can grow up to 15 centimeters in length. Its body is cylindrical in shape, with a distinct siphon at each end. The tunic, the outer covering of the sea squirt, is typically yellow or orange in color. The Yellow Sea Squirt – Ciona edwardsi has a prominent, fleshy mantle which protects its internal organs. It is filter feeder, drawing water into the body through the incurrent siphon and expelling it through the excurrent siphon.
Habitat and Occurrence
The Yellow Sea Squirt – Ciona edwardsi is a highly adaptable species that can be found in a variety of habitats, from rocky shores to sandy bottoms. It is commonly found in intertidal zones, which are the areas between high and low tide marks. The Yellow Sea Squirt – Ciona edwardsi prefers shallow, sheltered waters, particularly in areas with moderate currents. It is also frequently found in estuaries and harbors, and can be found in both temperate and tropical regions. Its range spans several marine zones, from the neritic zone to the littoral zone.
Taxonomy
The Yellow Sea Squirt – Ciona edwardsi is classified within the family Cionidae, which belongs to the order Phlebobranchia. It is a member of the Class Ascidiacea, which is a diverse group of marine invertebrates that includes sea squirts, salps, and pyrosomes.
Feeding
The Yellow Sea Squirt – Ciona edwardsi is a filter feeder that primarily consumes phytoplankton. It draws water into its body through the incurrent siphon and filters out the phytoplankton using a specialized structure called a pharynx. The captured phytoplankton is then transported to the digestive tract, where it is broken down and absorbed.
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