Family

Common name: Stolidobranch ascidians

Scientific name: Styelidae

Styelidae, commonly known as stolidobranch ascidians or sea squirts, is a family of sessile marine invertebrates within the class Ascidiacea. Members of this family are filter feeders, using siphons to draw in water and extract plankton and other nutrients. They are encased in a tough outer tunic, which is often transparent or translucent. Styelidae species can be solitary or colonial and are found in a variety of marine environments, from shallow waters to the deep sea. They play a role in the reef ecosystem by filtering water and can be indicators of environmental health. In the aquarium, they require stable water conditions and can be sensitive to changes in water quality.

  1. Common name: Leach's compound ascidian
    Scientific name: Botryllus leachii
  2. Colorful Mediterranean orange sea sponge in underwater scene
    Common name: Orange Sea Squirt
    Scientific name: Eusynstyela latericius
  3. Polycarpa aurata, also known as the ox heart ascidian, the gold-mouth sea squirt or the ink-spot sea squirt
    Common name: golden sea squirt
    Scientific name: Polycarpa aurata
  4. Ascidian Diversity
    Common name: Giant Tunicate
    Scientific name: Polycarpa contecta
  5. Common name: Polycarpa papillata
    Scientific name: Polycarpa papillata
  6. Ascidia tunicate Polycarpa pigmentata and colonial tunicate Didemnum moseleyi undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sinai, Ras Mohammad national park
    Common name: Inkspot Sea Squirt
    Scientific name: Polycarpa pigmentata