eastern cape scuba diving
| |
|
<<< BACK
| Scientific name: |
Didemnum obscurum |
|
| Common name: |
Orange lattice ascidian |
|
| Taxonomy |
| Phyulm |
Sub Phylum |
Class |
Sub Class |
Order |
Sub Order |
Family |
Sub Family |
Genus |
Species |
| Chordata |
Urochordata |
Ascidiacea |
Not Defined |
Aplousobranchia |
Not Defined |
Didemnidae |
Not Defined |
Didemnum |
Didemnum obscurum |
|
|
Short Description:
Colonial ascidian forming a thin crust over rocks or other substrate.The star shape inhalant openings of the minute zooids dot the surface,giving a lattice-like appearance.The larger turret-like exhalant siphons are shared bu numerous zooids.The overall colour is bright orange
|
Identification
features: |
Zooids are the smallest of all ascidians.Vaarious colour and shapes have been recorded which may represent sperate species |
| Size: |
Colonies 1-2 cm thick and up to 50cm across |
| Behaviour: |
|
| Diet: |
Filterfeeder |
| Distribution: |
Cape Town to Sodwana Bay |
| Depth: |
5-30m |
| Habitat: |
Shallow rocky reefs |
| Reference: |
- Two Oceans
(A guide to the marine life of Southern Africa)
GM Branch;CL Griffiths;ML Branch;LE Beckley
|
| Similar Species: |
|
|
Database Statistics
(Click on the links for more information) |
|
|
|
|
|
eastern cape scuba diving
DSCF1896.jpg)
DSCF1896.jpg){kind=link}
