Biodiversity & Conservation

A sea squirt - Ciona intestinalis - General information

Ciona intestinalis

Image Keith Hiscock - The solitary sea squirt Ciona intestinalis. Image width ca XX cm.
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Distribution map

Ciona intestinalis recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

Sightings Have you seen Ciona intestinalis?
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Ciona intestinalis is not listed under any importance categories.

General information

Key Icon Researched by: Angus Jackson Text page icon Refereed by: Dr John Bishop

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy

Phylum Chordata Sea squirts, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals
Class Ascidiacea Sea squirts
Map icon Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland Widely distributed round British and Irish coasts.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Found from the lower shore down to at least 500 m. Often common in man-made environments such as harbours and marinas. Grows on bedrock and boulders but also artificial surfaces such as metal and concrete. Other species such as algae are also used as substrata. Ciona intestinalis prefers habitats with low wave exposure and some water flow.
Text page icon Description Ciona intestinalis is a large solitary sea squirt which grows up to 15 cm in length. The body is soft, retractile and a pale translucent greenish/yellow, through which the internal organs are visible. Sometimes there are orange bars on the body. There are two openings or siphons which may have yellow margins with orange/red pigment spots.

This review can be cited as follows:

Angus Jackson 2008. Ciona intestinalis. A sea squirt. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 25/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesfullreview.php?speciesID=2991>