Dendrodoa grossularia (Van Beneden, 1846)

Description

Dendrodoa grossularia is a solitary ascidian up to 2 cm long and about 1,5 cm in diameter. Its body has the form of a flat dome with an enlarging base but sometimes it can be erected and marble-shaped. The oral siphon is terminal, close to the atrial siphon and both are four-lobed. The test is reddish-brown. It can live solitary or in groups attached to rocks, shells or seaweeds.

Similar species

Distomus variolosus develops flat and the individuals appear to be agglomerated with a common coat. Polycarpa scuba also has a shape of a tea-pot but the siphons are larger, more apart and of square section.

Distribution

Dendrodoa grossularia is found from surface to 100 m deep in the Atlantic Ocean from the Arctic to the Southern coasts of Brittany, in the English Channel, the North Sea and West-Baltic.

Classification

Source : World Register of Marine Species

Biota (Superdomain)
Animalia (Kingdom)
Chordata (Phylum)
Tunicata (Subphylum)
Ascidiacea (Class)
Stolidobranchia (Order)
Styelidae (Family)
Dendrodoa (Genus)
Dendrodoa grossularia (Species)

Page glossary

Test : or tunic: thick layer secreted by the mantel containing cellulose and protecting the animal.

Oral siphon : opening by which water is drawn in the ascidian.

Atrial siphon : opening through which water is expelled.

Authors

Text : Anne Bay-Nouailhat © 2006 - 2020.

Photos : © Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat. Published with his kind permission.
Websites and reference works : Consult bibliography

How to cite this page

Bay-Nouailhat A., January 2006, Description of Dendrodoa grossularia, [On line] http://european-marine-life.org/32/dendrodoa-grossularia.php, consulted on 2020 September 29.