FIVE SEA SQUIRTS NEW TO SCIENCE DISCOVERED IN THE TROPICAL COAST OF BRAZIL.
Ascidians (commonly know as sea squirts) belong to Tunicata group of sac-like marine invertebrate filter feeders. Found all over the world, there are 2300 species approx., now you have to add 5 more to the list. So far about 120 species have been descrite from the coast of Brazil. In a recent article published in Zootaxa, scientists from the Federal University of Paraná describe five new species found in Espiritu Santo and Bahia. When the larval stage of these animals finishes, they fixate on surfaces such rocks, shells and hulls of shipwrecks, losing the ability to swim or move. From there, the best protection they have against predators is the production of chemicals. This adaptation is well known on member of Didemmndae family.
Photo: Diplosoma citrinum, Didemnum flammacolor, Didemnum longigasterDidemnum lambertae and Didemnum aurantium.
Reference: Moreira da Rocha et al. 2015. New species of Didemnidae (Tunicata: Ascidiacea) from the tropical coast of Brazil. Zootaxa