Habitat 
Depth 
Group 
Role 
Average sizeWHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
Small star-shaped clusters dot the thin sheet formed by the star tunicate (Botryllus schlosseri). Each cluster, called a rosette, consists of individual animals called zooids arranged around a shared opening.
Colours vary widely between colonies: yellow, orange, purple, brown or very dark shades. The individuals may contrast with their shared covering, making the stars stand out.
WHERE DOES IT LIVE?
On a pontoon or hull as on a rock, shell or alga, the star tunicate remains attached to its support. Harbours and coastal lagoons provide sheltered coastal habitats where it is common. Particle-rich water is among the conditions in which it can grow.
WHAT DOES IT EAT?
The centre of a star tunicate rosette is a shared water outlet rather than the mouth of one animal. Around it, each zooid draws water through its oral siphon and retains food particles in its internal filter. Food enters that individual’s digestive tract, while filtered water reaches the collective outgoing circuit. This arrangement allows a low-growing colony to obtain food from the surrounding water.
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