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ALEXANDRE MEINESZ

Dark Sea Squirt

In Dive.Explo360: Mediterranean · Northeast Atlantic · Atlantic Ocean

Easy to identify by its robust outline and almost black colour, the Dark Sea Squirt lives where currents bring food. Attached to the substrate, it continually filters water and quietly contributes to the quality of coastal seabeds.

Habitat de Dark Sea Squirt Habitat
Sand, Rocky habitat, Coralligenous habitat
Profondeur de Dark Sea Squirt Depth
1-100 m
Groupe biologique de Dark Sea Squirt Group
Tunicate
Rôle écologique de Dark Sea Squirt Role
Filter feeder

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

This solitary ascidian has a thick, firm body, often upright but sometimes lying down depending on its attachment surface. Its shape is elongated and irregular.Its tunic is tough, dark grey to black, sometimes with brownish reflections. The surface may be smooth or slightly wrinkled.It has two openings: a clearly visible upper siphon through which water enters and a second, less conspicuous one through which it is released.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

It lives attached to hard surfaces such as rocks, shells or submerged structures.It occurs on rocky seabeds as well as soft substrates containing solid material to which it can anchor.It is often present in areas where currents bring suspended particles.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

It feeds by filtering seawater. Water enters through the inhalant siphon, where food particles are retained.It mainly consumes phytoplankton, bacteria and suspended organic matter, then releases filtered water through the other siphon.

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Other species — Tunicate

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Same habitat and depth

Sandy seabed species Rocky seabed species Coralligenous habitat species

Same ecological role and depth

Filter-feeding species

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