Common name: Polycarpa papillata

General information

Polycarpa papillata is a species of ascidian or sea squirt, belonging to the family Styelidae. Ascidians are sessile invertebrates that filter feed by drawing water into their bodies through a siphon, trapping food particles with their pharyngeal basket, and then expelling the filtered water. Polycarpa papillata is known for its distinctive appearance, often characterized by a soft, globular body with papillae or small protuberances covering its surface.

Care

Caring for Polycarpa papillata in a reef aquarium requires stable water conditions and moderate to low water flow. They are filter feeders and benefit from the presence of fine particulate organic matter in the water, which can be provided through regular feedings of phytoplankton or specialized filter feeder diets. It's important to ensure that they are not outcompeted for food by other filter feeders in the tank.

Reproduction

Like many ascidians, Polycarpa papillata is capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction. In the aquarium, they may reproduce by budding, where new individuals grow from the parent organism. Sexual reproduction involves the release of eggs and sperm into the water column, where fertilization occurs externally. The resulting larvae are free-swimming and will settle onto a suitable substrate to develop into a new individual.

Habitat

Polycarpa papillata is found in a variety of marine environments, often attaching to hard substrates such as rocks, coral rubble, or the hulls of ships. They are distributed in tropical and subtropical waters and can be found at various depths, often in areas with moderate light and water movement.