- Grows from rocks;
- Comes in a variety of colours such as orange, purple, yellow or pink;
- It’s colours are formed from an encrusting sponge, which covers its surface;
- Found in coastal waters to a depth of 80 m;
- Is unable to move around, therefore, it waits for the currents to bring food to it;
- Like all sea squirts, it is a filter feeder, pumping water in and out of its siphons and extracting the plankton;
- This filter feeding habit allows adult ascidians to accumulate pollutants, so by observing ascidian populations, we can get a good indication of pollution levels of the environment;
- In the relationship between the Sea Tulip and the encrusting sponge, the Sea Tulip gains protection from predators by using the sponge’s defence, and the sponge benefits by having a surface on which to grow;
- Are named for their flower-like appearance and stalked bodies;
- Sea Squirts and Sea Tulips are collectively known as ascidians;
- Ascidians are the evolutionary link between invertebrates and vertebrates;
- Ascidians are an invertebrate with some primitive vertebrate features, such as a primitive backbone during a stage in their life cycle.
Reference: Australian.museum
Karina Teuma 