Cystodytes dellachiajei

Millar, R. H. 1962
Phylum Chordata
Class Ascidiacea
Order Aplousobranchia
Family Polycitoridae
  • Colonies are think encrusting mats free of encrusting material or epibionts.
  • Colour of living specimens vary from cream, yellow, brownish to lilac.
  • Spicules are disk shaped and arranged around the zooid to form a capsule.
  • The spicule capsule is sometimes visible through the surface of the colony test.
  • The zooid (about 5 mm long) are arranges around the closely groups atrial opening in the centre.
  • Siphons are lobed with the atrial siphon forming a long tube.
  • Branchial sac has 4 rows of stigmata each with about 20 stigmata.
  • Larvae are about 1 mm long with 3 adhesive papillae with 4 fan shaped ampulla (distal parts fused) on each side.
© 2013 Shirley Parker-Nance 2013-11-27 077.JPG © 2013 Shirley Parker-Nance 2013-11-27 079.JPG © 2015 Tim Parker-Nance 2015-09-06 031.JPG © 2012 Shirley Parker-Nance TIC2012-013 larvae 002 (10obj).jpg

References
  • Millar, R. H. 1962 Further descriptions of South African ascidians56:113-221
  • Monniot, C.; Monniot, F.; Griffiths, C. and Schleyer, M. 2001 Ascidians of South Africa.108:1-141
  • Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Ruis, M.; Rocha, R. M.; Swalla, B.; et al. 2017 Ascidiacea World Database. Atriolum marinense Kott, 2001. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=250052 on 2019-03-12