White Fungus Ascidian

Appearance

This synascidium is mushroom-shaped, short and stocky. The common tunic is thick, hard in consistency, white in color, on a broad, thick foot. It is marked with transparent circular areas, the zoids. Each zoid has its own mouth siphon, digestive, reproductive and heart system and cloacal siphon. They are marked with a transparent membrane. It itself secretes its tunic, composed of tunicin, 60% cellulose, which is unique in the animal kingdom since cellulose is a compound specific to plants. Like sponges, it has spicules allowing identification. Size 2.6 cm, depth 7-54 m

Distribution

Indo pacific, Philippines, Visayas.

Habitat

It is found on coral reefs growing on dead corals.

Reproduction

Hermaphrodite. Sexual reproduction by external fertilization. They are planktonic, free swimming, before settling and developing on the substrate. Asexual reproduction also occurs by budding.

Food

It feeds by filtration on planktonic microorganisms.