AquaNISInformation system on aquatic non-indigenous and cryptogenic species |
Species | Botryllus schlosseri [WoRMS] | |
Authority | (Pallas, 1766) | |
Family | Styelidae | |
Order | Stolidobranchia | |
Class | Ascidiacea | |
Phylum | Chordata | |
Synonym (?) | Golden star tunicate | |
Sub-species level (?) | Not entered |
Native origin (?) | Not known References: Hewitt, C. L., Campbell, M. L., Thresher, R. E., Martin, R. B., Boyd, S., Cohen, B. F., ... & Lockett, M. M. (2004). Introduced and cryptogenic species in port Phillip bay, Victoria, Australia. Marine biology, 144(1), 183-202. References (not structured): Nydam ML, Giesbrecht KB, Stephenson EE. 2017. Origin and dispersal history of two colonial ascidian clades in the Botryllus schlosseri species complex. PLoS One 12: e0169944 Comments: Long been thought to be native to Europe, and recent molecular work has provided support for this hypothesis. [...] There is evidence from polymorphism and coalescent analyses that Clade A originated in the Pacific, but it also has had a long evolutionary history in the Mediterranean and has colonized the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay several times. The B. schlosseri species complex either originated in the Pacific Ocean and diversified after Clade A arrived in European waters, or originated in Europe, with ancestors of Clade A dispersing to the Pacific Ocean. A well resolved phylogenetic tree of B. schlosseri will allow us to determine the likely geographic origin of this species group |
Life form / Life stage (?) |
References (not structured): De Kluijver MJ, Ingalsuo SS (2004) Botryllus schlosseri . Publisher Universiteit van Amsterdam http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/bis/tunicata.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=21 Accessed 21 March 2011 Comments: The golden star tunicate is a colonial species that forms flat circular or elongate sheets, up to 5 cm long and 2 cm broad. Their color are variable but often blue with arrangement with star-shaped systems of 3 to 12 individuals |
Sociability / Life stage (?) | Not entered |
Reproductive frequency (?) | Not entered |
Reproductive type (?) | Asexual References: De Kluijver MJ, Ingalsuo SS (2004) Botryllus schlosseri . Publisher Universiteit van Amsterdam http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/bis/tunicata.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=21 Accessed 21 March 2011 Comments: They are hermaphroditic, eggs shed and fertilized in the water. |
Developmental trait (?) | Spawning References: De Kluijver MJ, Ingalsuo SS (2004) Botryllus schlosseri . Publisher Universiteit van Amsterdam http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/bis/tunicata.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=21 Accessed 21 March 2011 |
Characteristic feeding method / Life stage (?) |
References (not structured): De Kluijver MJ, Ingalsuo SS (2004) Botryllus schlosseri . Publisher Universiteit van Amsterdam http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/bis/tunicata.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=21 Accessed 21 March 2011 Comments: Benthic suspension feeders. |
Mobility / Life stage (?) |
References (not structured): Michael Allaby (2009) Ascidiacea. Oxford University,http://www.oxfordreference.com.ludwig.lub.lu.se/view /ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t8.e675 Accessed 24 August 2010 Comments: Botryllus schlosseri is type of sea squirt, most of which inhabit shallow waters where they attach themselves to such structures as rocks, pilings, the bottoms of ships, and coral reefs. |
Salinity tolerance range (?) | Not entered |
Habitat modifying ability potential (?) | Not entered |
Toxicity / Life stage (?) | Not entered |
Bioaccumulation association (?) | Not entered |
Known human health impact? | Not entered |
Known economic impact? | Not entered |
Known measurable environmental impact? | Not entered |
Included in the Target Species list? | Not entered |
Molecular information | Not entered |
Last update by | Agnese Marchini, 2021-02-28 |