TUNICATA : Stolidobranchia : MolgulidaeSEA SQUIRTS

Eugyra arenosa (Alder & Hancock, 1848)


Description: This solitary ascidian lives buried in clean sandy sediment with only the siphons showing. It is spherical in shape and its test is covered with fine sand.

Habitat: Open coast sites with clean sand sediments.

Distribution: Found all round the British Isles.

Similar Species: Compare with Molgula occulta which is similar but lives in muddier sediments.

Key Identification Features:

  • Buried in clean fine sand
  • Test covered with adhering sand particles

Distribution Map from NBN: Eugyra arenosa at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Eugyra arenosa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Eugyra arenosa at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Eugyra arenosa (Alder & Hancock, 1848). AphiaID: 103764.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Chordata; Tunicata; Ascidiacea; Stolidobranchia; Molgulidae; Eugyra

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 Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2024). Eugyra arenosa. (Alder & Hancock, 1848). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://www2.habitas.org.uk/marbiop-ni/speciesaccounts.php?item=ZD2640. Accessed on 2024-07-07