Orange Sheath Tunicate - Botrylloides violaceus

A colonial sea squirt that often overgrows mussels, barnacles, bryozoans, and solitary sea squirts.

This species is invasive and was likely introduced to the east coast from the Pacific Northwest. I found a bunch of these little blobs on the beach during low tide. When I saw the first one, I thought it was a piece of garbage and went to pick it up. I was surprised to find it was squishy, and quickly realized that it was some sort of creature!

Habitat: Rocky intertidal habitat (brown and red algal zones)