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Sea Squirt

HomeMarine InvertebratesSea Squirt

Sea Squirt

Various species, e.g., Ascidiella aspersa, Clavelina lepadiformis

These tunicates filter plankton and detritus through siphons, occasionally “squirting” water if touched at low tide. Sea Squirts are primitive chordates, more closely related to vertebrates than you might think at first glance. Around Lihou, look for them attached to rocks in shallow pools, sometimes forming small clusters of jelly-like bodies.

  • Habitat: Attached to rocks, seaweeds, or man-made structures in mid- to lower intertidal and subtidal.
  • When to See: Year-round
  • Length: Typically a few cm tall per individual or colony.