Ascidia ornata

Appearance

This solitary ascidia is large, transparent-bluish to grayish in color, with groups of small yellow or white dots. It consists of 2 siphons in the shape of a large elongated, bumpy and thick, gelatinous bag. The mouth siphon has an opening tinged with yellow to brownish color and bordered by bright yellow or white teeth and prickly red mouth tentacles located inside. It absorbs water and filters nutrients through the mucus lining the inner wall of the pharynx. The cloacal siphon is smaller. It expels water and waste. The sea squirt secretes itself its tunic, composed of tunicin, 60% cellulose which is unique in the animal kingdom since cellulose is a compound specific to plants. It has, pharynx (double action: nutrition and respiration) nerve ganglion, heart, intestine, testicle and ovary. Size 5 cm, depth 13-20 m

Distribution

Indo-Pacific.

Habitat

It is found solitary in crevices, shaded areas of the coral reef. It feeds on planktonic microorganisms by filtration.

Reproduction

Reproduction: The Ascidiacea class is hermaphrodite. Eggs and sperm do not mature at the same time, which prevents self-fertilization. Fertilization is external and gives birth to a lecithotrophic larva (free swimming). At the larval stage, the larva has a tadpole shape. The tail forms the dorsal cord which corresponds to the spine of vertebrates. It is planktonic. After 12 to 24 hours it settles and develops in 20 days on the substrate, adult stage.