Synoicum globosum

Parker-Nance, 2012
Phylum Chordata
Class Ascidiacea
Order Aplousobranchia
Family Polyclinidae
  • The firm gelatinous colonies consist of oval to egg shaped or slightly flattened heads (5.0 x 3.5 cm in diameter and 4.5 cm high) cone-shape stalk (3.0 x 2.5 cm in diameter by 1.5 cm high).
  • Zooids are clearly visible in freshly collected specimens with the red coloured zooids in contrast with the mustard yellow of the test.
  • Zooids are arranged in compact circular systems of 8 - 12 zooids.
  • Internally the zooid (between 8 and 20 mm in length), thoraxes and abdomens are closely packed together in recognizable layers with little test material between them.
  • The branchial opening has 6 small lobes and the atrial opening is small with a single ribbon-like tongue, small teeth or lobes are present on the flattened distal end of the tongue.
  • The branchial sac has 11-14 rows of stigmata with 10-11 stigmata in each of the rows.
  • The smooth somewhat posteriorly flattened stomach is situated about half way down the abdomen.
  • Ova and testes follicles in a slender posterior abdomen.
  • One to two larvae are present in a developmental sequence in the atrial cavity of the zooids.
  • Larva have 12 or more ampullae arranged in 2-3 rows on each side of the adhesive organs, epidermal vesicles are present dorsally and ventrally.
© 2012 Shirley Parker-Nance 2012-04-04 11-26-25_0039.JPG © 2014 Shirley Parker-Nance 2014-07-26 067.JPG © 2004 Shirley Parker-Nance SAF04-054fig1.JPG © SAEON Synoicum fig 001a.jpg © 2012 Shirley Parker-Nance TIC2004-643 Larva 001 slide 3 of 3a.jpg

References
  • Sikorska, J.; Parker-Nance, S.; Davies-Coleman, M. T.; Vining, O. B.; Sikora, A. E.; et al. 2012 Antimicrobial rubrolides P-S from a South African species of Synoicum.75:1824-1827