Styela angularis (angular sea squirt) is a solitary, hermaphroditic ascidian tunicate that is found along the coast of Southern Africa from Lüderitz Bay in Namibia to the Eastern Cape.[2]

Styela angularis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Tunicata
Class: Ascidiacea
Order: Stolidobranchia
Family: Styelidae
Genus: Styela
Species:
S. angularis
Binomial name
Styela angularis
(Stimpson, 1855)[1]
Synonyms [1]
  • Cynthia angularis Stimpson, 1855
  • Tethyum costatum Hartmeyer, 1911
  • Styela costata (Hartmeyer, 1911)

Description edit

Order of 100 millimetres (3.9 in) tall, with a tough flexible opaque hexagonal test tapering down to a narrow base peduncle. Stands upright on the substrate. Cloacal siphon terminal, and oral siphon slightly ventral and posterior.

Behaviour edit

Occurs singly on rocks or other hard surfaces where water is clean and fairly fast moving. Often covered by epibionts.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Rosana Moreira da Rocha & Karen Sanamyan (2013). Shenkar N, Gittenberger A, Lambert G, Rius M, Moreira Da Rocha R, Swalla BJ, Turon X (eds.). "Styela angularis (Stimpson, 1855)". Ascidiacea World Database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  2. ^ Monniot, C; Monniot, F; Griffiths, C.L; Schleyer, M (2001). "South African ascidians". Annals of the South African Museum. 108 (1): 1–141. ISBN 0868131806.

External links edit