Rafi Amar, Israel
Info
Clavelina auracea Monniot C., 1997
Clavelina is genus of sea squirts (the Ascidiacea). Similar to Clavelina detorta.
This ascidian has a regionally limited distribution: Its only known from the southwestern tropical Indian Ocean and is certainly found in Mozambique, Mayotte and Madagascar and probably in Oman. The other geographical indications are probably incorrect and correspond to other species, notably the very similar Clavelina detorta.
Clavelina auracea inhabits coral reefs under overhangs at depths of about 10 to 25 m. It grows in areas with light and currents.
The golden stalked sea squirt is an uncommon species that forms small groups. The orange stalk is opaque, fairly rigid, and measures 1 to 4 cm. It is often covered with epibionts (bryozoans, filamentous algae or crustal algae).
Clavelina is Latin = nail, club. The species name "auracea" means = gold and refers to the colour of the intestinal loop and the stalk. It is also the name of the mission describing this sea squirt along the coast of Mozambique: "Auracea 1995".
Clavelina is genus of sea squirts (the Ascidiacea). Similar to Clavelina detorta.
This ascidian has a regionally limited distribution: Its only known from the southwestern tropical Indian Ocean and is certainly found in Mozambique, Mayotte and Madagascar and probably in Oman. The other geographical indications are probably incorrect and correspond to other species, notably the very similar Clavelina detorta.
Clavelina auracea inhabits coral reefs under overhangs at depths of about 10 to 25 m. It grows in areas with light and currents.
The golden stalked sea squirt is an uncommon species that forms small groups. The orange stalk is opaque, fairly rigid, and measures 1 to 4 cm. It is often covered with epibionts (bryozoans, filamentous algae or crustal algae).
Clavelina is Latin = nail, club. The species name "auracea" means = gold and refers to the colour of the intestinal loop and the stalk. It is also the name of the mission describing this sea squirt along the coast of Mozambique: "Auracea 1995".
