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Red Sea Squirt

Distribution : Mediterranean · Atlantic Ocean

Mussel juice is among the foods used to maintain red sea squirts in some Mediterranean aquariums. Patrick Lelong, writing for the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute, described this feeding option alongside plankton-based foods. The animal remains attached to its support and depends on suspended particles passing through its filtering system. Keeping it in an aquarium therefore requires a very different approach from feeding fish.

Habitat of Red Sea Squirt Habitat
Sand, Rocky habitat, Coralligenous habitat
Depth range of Red Sea Squirt Depth
10-50 m
Biological group of Red Sea Squirt Group
Ecological role of Red Sea Squirt Role
Filter feeder

Average size

10 cm

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

The red sea squirt (Halocynthia papillosa) has a pouch-like body, rounded or elongated. Each pouch is an individual rather than a colony of small animals.

Its bright-red to orange colour accompanies a thick, bumpy surface. This is the tunic, the animal’s outer covering.

One siphon lies towards the top, the second at the side: these two openings stand out on the small bag-shaped body.

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Red Sea Squirt

Watch this species in filmed dives

Other species — Tunicate

Dark Sea Squirt Conical Sea Squirt Sea Squirt Light-bulb sea squirt Blue-tinted sea squirt Violet sea squirt Brown Colonial Sea Squirt Edwards' Sea Squirt

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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What is this species’ ecological role?

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Articles related to this species

ArticleSwallow, filter, suck in: surprising ways to feedRead the article →ArticlePHYLA WITHOUT THE FUSSRead the article →ArticleMetamorphosis, from tissue remodelling to a change of habitatRead the article →