There are 81 species of tunicate ( subphylum Tunicata) recorded in Ireland.

Class Ascidiacea (sea squirts)

Clavelina lepadiformis ''Clavelina lepadiformis'', common name the light-bulb sea squirt, is a colonial sea squirt native to the NE Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximatel ...

'' (light-bulb sea squirt)

Family Didemnidae

Tunicate_colony_of_Didemnum_vexillum_overgrowing_gravel

*''

Didemnum fulgens ''Didemnum'' is a genus of colonial tunicates in the family Didemnidae. It is the most speciose genus in the didemnid family. Species in this genus often have small calcareous spicules embedded in the tunic and form irregular or lobed colonies ...

'' *'' Didemnum maculosum '' *''

Didemnum vexillum ''Didemnum vexillum'' is a species of Colony (biology), colonial tunicate in the family (biology), family Didemnidae. It is commonly called sea vomit, marine vomit, pancake batter tunicate, or carpet sea squirt. It is thought to be native to J ...

'' (carpet sea squirt, an invasive species recorded in Strangford Lough in 2012) *'' Diplosoma listerianum '' *''

Diplosoma spongiforme Diplosoma may refer to: * ''Diplosoma'' (tunicate), a genus of tunicates in the family Didemnidae Didemnidae, or Didemnidæ, is a family of colonial tunicates in the order Enterogona. These marine animals are found in shallow water on the seabe ...

'' *'' Lissoclinum perforatum'' *'' Trididemnum cereum '' *'' Trididemnum tenerum''

Family Holozoidae

*'' Distaplia rosea ''

Family
Polycitoridae Polycitoridae is a family of tunicates belonging to the order Aplousobranchia. Genera: * '' Archidistoma'' Garstang, 1891 * '' Brevicollus'' Kott, 1990 * '' Cystodytes'' Drasche, 1884 * ''Eucoelium'' Savigny, 1816 * ''Eudistoma'' Caullery, 1909 ...

*''

Archidistoma aggregatum ''Archidistoma'' is a genus of tunicates in the family Polycitoridae Polycitoridae is a family of tunicates belonging to the order Aplousobranchia. Genera: * '' Archidistoma'' Garstang, 1891 * '' Brevicollus'' Kott, 1990 * '' Cystodytes'' ...

Family Pycnoclavellidae

*''

Pycnoclavella aurilucens ''Pycnoclavella '' is a genus of sea squirts first circumscribed by Walter Garstang in 1891. The generic name comes from the Ancient Greek (''puknós'') meaning "closely united". In 1990, Patricia Kott placed ''Pycnoclavella'' in its own fam ...

'' *''

Pycnoclavella producta ''Pycnoclavella '' is a genus of sea squirts first circumscribed by Walter Garstang in 1891. The generic name comes from the Ancient Greek (''puknós'') meaning "closely united". In 1990, Patricia Kott placed ''Pycnoclavella'' in its own fam ...

'' *''

Pycnoclavella stolonialis ''Pycnoclavella '' is a genus of sea squirts first circumscribed by Walter Garstang in 1891. The generic name comes from the Ancient Greek (''puknós'') meaning "closely united". In 1990, Patricia Kott placed ''Pycnoclavella'' in its own fam ...

Order Enterogona

Family Ascidiidae

*'' Ascidia conchilega'' *''

Ascidia mentula ''Ascidia mentula'' is a species of solitary tunicate. It is found in the north east Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. It occurs round the coasts of Britain but is seldom seen on the east coast of England or Scotland. Descrip ...

'' *'' Ascidia virginea'' *'' Ascidiella aspersa'' *'' Ascidiella scabra'' *'' Phallusia mammillata''

Family Cionidae

*''

Ciona intestinalis ''Ciona intestinalis'' (sometimes known by the common name of vase tunicate) is an ascidian (sea squirt), a tunicate with very soft tunic. Its Latin name literally means "pillar of intestines", referring to the fact that its body is a soft, trans ...

'' (vase tunicate)

Family
Polyclinidae Polyclinidae is a family of tunicates in the order Enterogona. It describes a group of marine animals. Genera The World Register of Marine Species lists the following genera: '' Aplidiopsis'' Lahille, 1890 '' Aplidium'' Savigny, 1816 *'' Fraga ...

*''

Aplidium densum ''Aplidium'' is a genus of colonial sea squirts, tunicates in the family Polyclinidae. There are about 188 species in the genus found in shallow waters around the world. Species The following species are listed in this genus according to the ...

'' *''

Aplidium elegans ''Aplidium elegans'' (sea-strawberry) is a species of colonial sea squirt, a tunicate that is a benthic invertebrate in the family Polyclinidae and class Ascidiacea. Bay-Nouailhat A., September 2005, Description of Aplidium elegans, Availabl ...

'' *'' Aplidium glabrum '' *''

Aplidium nordmanni ''Aplidium'' is a genus of colonial sea squirts, tunicates in the family Polyclinidae. There are about 188 species in the genus found in shallow waters around the world. Species The following species are listed in this genus according to the ...

'' *''

Aplidium pallidum ''Aplidium'' is a genus of colonial sea squirts, tunicates in the family Polyclinidae. There are about 188 species in the genus found in shallow waters around the world. Species The following species are listed in this genus according to the ...

'' *''

Aplidium proliferum ''Aplidium'' is a genus of colonial sea squirts, tunicates in the family Polyclinidae. There are about 188 species in the genus found in shallow waters around the world. Species The following species are listed in this genus according to the Wo ...

'' *'' Aplidium punctum'' *''

Aplidium turbinatum ''Aplidium'' is a genus of colonial sea squirts, tunicates in the family Polyclinidae. There are about 188 species in the genus found in shallow waters around the world. Species The following species are listed in this genus according to the Wo ...

'' *''

Morchellium argus ''Morchellium argus'', the red-flake ascidian, is a species of colonial sea squirt, a tunicate in the family Polyclinidae. It is native to shallow water in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, especially round the coasts of Britain. Description ...

'' (red-flake ascidian) *''

Polyclinum aurantium ''Polyclinum aurantium'' is a species of colonial sea squirt, a tunicate in the family Polyclinidae. It is native to shallow water in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Description ''Polyclinum aurantium'' forms globular or ...

'' *''

Synoicum incrustatum ''Synoicum'' is a genus of colonial sea squirts, tunicates in the family Polyclinidae. Species The World Register of Marine Species lists the following species : *''Synoicum adareanum'' (Herdman, 1902) *''Synoicum angustum'' Kott, 1992 *'' ...

'' *''

Synoicum pulmonaria ''Synoicum pulmonaria'', the tennis ball ascidian or sea-fig, is a species of colonial sea squirt, a tunicate in the family Polyclinidae. It occurs in shallow water in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the English Channel, and al ...

Order Phlebobranchia

Family Corellidae

*'' Corella eumyota '' *'' Corella parallelogramma''

Family
Diazonidae Diazonidae is a family of sea squirts belonging to the suborder Phlebobranchia. Genera Genera in the family Diazonidae include:Turon, X.; Gittenberger, A.; Sanamyan, K. (2014). Diazonidae Seeliger, 1906. In: Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Lamber ...

*''

Diazona violacea ''Diazona violacea'' is a species of tunicate, an ascidian in the family Diazonidae. It is the type species of the genus '' Diazona''. Distribution This species is known from the northeast Atlantic from the British Isles to Portugal, and in the ...

Family Perophoridae

*''

Perophora listeri ''Perophora listeri'' is a species of colonial sea squirt in the genus ''Perophora ''Perophora'' is a sea squirt genus in the family Perophoridae. Most species are found in shallow warm water but a few are found in higher latitudes. A colon ...

Order
Pleurogona Pleurogona is an order of tunicates which is no longer in use as it contains the same families as Stolidobranchia. One of the more invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes o ...

Family
Styelidae Styelidae is a family of ascidian tunicates.Lambert, G.; Gittenberger, A.; Sanamyan, K. (2015)Styelidae Sluiter, 1895.In: Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Lambert, G.; Rius, M.; Moreira Da Rocha, R.; Swalla, B.J.; Turon, X. (2015) Ascidiacea World ...

*'' Botrylloides leachii'' *'' Botryllus schlosseri'' (star ascidian / golden star tunicate) * ''

Dendrodoa grossularia ''Dendrodoa grossularia'' is a species of tunicate or sea squirt in the family Styelidae, commonly known as the baked bean ascidian. It is native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean where it is common in shallow water and on the lower shore in exp ...

'' *''

Distomus variolosus ''Distomus variolosus'' is a species of tunicate or sea squirt in the family Styelidae. It is native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean where it lives on the seabed,Gittenberger, A.; Sanamyan, K. (2015)''Distomus variolosus'' Gaertner, 1774.In: S ...

'' *'' Polycarpa fibrosa '' *'' Polycarpa gracilis'' *'' Polycarpa pomaria'' *'' Polycarpa scuba'' *''

Stolonica socialis ''Stolonica socialis'' is a species of tunicate or sea squirt in the family Styelidae, commonly known as orange sea grapes. It is native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, where it lives on the rocky seabed in shallow water.Sanamyan, K. (2015)'' ...

'' *'' Styela clava'' (stalked sea squirt, club sea squirt, club tunicate, Asian tunicate, leathery sea squirt, rough sea squirt) *''

Styela coriacea ''Styela'' is a genus of tunicates. ''Styela clava'', an edible species, is known as an invasive species in some areas. Species include:Sanamyan, K. (2015)''Styela'' Fleming, 1822.In: Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Lambert, G.; Rius, M.; Morei ...

Order Stolidobranchia

Family
Molgulidae Molgulidae is a Family (biology), family of tunicates in the Class (biology), class Ascidiacea. Following a revision in 2007, the family Hexacrobylidae was synonymized with Molgulidae. Genera The World Register of Marine Species lists the follo ...
(sea grapes)

*'' Molgula citrina'' *'' Molgula complanata '' *'' Molgula manhattensis '' *'' Molgula occulta '' *'' Molgula oculata '' (sea grape)

Family Pyuridae

*''

Boltenia echinata ''Boltenia echinata'', commonly known as the cactus sea squirt, is a species of tunicate, a marine invertebrate in the genus '' Boltenia'' of the family Pyuridae Pyuridae is a family of tunicates.Gittenberger, A.; Sanamyan, K. (2015)Pyuridae.I ...

'' *''

Microcosmus claudicans ''Microcosmus'' is a genus of tunicates in the family Pyuridae, containing the following species: *''Microcosmus albidus'' Michaelsen, 1904 *''Microcosmus anchylodeirus'' Traustedt, 1883 *''Microcosmus anomalocarpus'' Millar, 1988 *''Microcosm ...

'' *''

Pyura microcosmus ''Pyura'' is a large genus of sessile ascidians that live in coastal waters at depths of up to 80 m (260 feet). Like all ascidians, ''Pyura'' are filter feeders. A few species, including Pyura chilensis are commercially fished. Specie ...

'' *'' Pyura squamulosa '' *'' Pyura tessellata '' Pelagic tunicates (free-swimming)

Class Appendicularia (larvaceans)

Order Copelata

Family
Oikopleuridae Oikopleuridae is a family of larvacean tunicates (class Appendicularia). References * Van der Land, J. (2001). Appendicularia, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in ...

5 species

Family
Fritillariidae Fritillariidae is a family of tunicate A tunicate is a marine invertebrate animal, a member of the subphylum Tunicata (). It is part of the Chordata, a phylum which includes all animals with dorsal nerve cords and notochords (including verte ...

4 species

Class Thaliacea (pelagic tunicates)

Order Doliolida

Family
Doliolidae Doliolidae is a family of tunicates in the order Doliolida. Members of the family are pelagic and often found far away from coastlines.

3 species

Order Salpida (salps)

Family Salpidae (salps)

7 species

Order
Pyrosomida Pyrosomes, genus ''Pyrosoma'', are free-floating colonial tunicates that usually live in the upper layers of the open ocean in warm seas, although some may be found at greater depths. Pyrosomes are cylindrical or cone-shaped colonies up to long, ...
(pyrosomes)

Family
Pyrosomatidae Pyrosomes, genus ''Pyrosoma'', are free-floating colonial tunicates that usually live in the upper layers of the open ocean in warm seas, although some may be found at greater depths. Pyrosomes are cylindrical or cone-shaped colonies up to long, ...
(pyrosomes)

1 species

References

Identification *Harant, H. & Vernieres P., 1933. Tuniciers I. ''Faune de France'' n° 27 101 p., 94 fi
PDF (4 Mo)
*Harant, H. & Vernieres P., 1938 Tuniciers II. ''Faune de France'' n° 33 60 p., 64 fig
PDF (2 Mo)

External links

Marine species identification portal
{{Animals of Ireland Ireland, tuni Tunicates tunicates

Class Ascidiacea (sea squirts)

Order Aplousobranchia

Family Clavelinidae

Family Didemnidae

Family Holozoidae

Family
Polycitoridae Polycitoridae is a family of tunicates belonging to the order Aplousobranchia. Genera: * '' Archidistoma'' Garstang, 1891 * '' Brevicollus'' Kott, 1990 * '' Cystodytes'' Drasche, 1884 * ''Eucoelium'' Savigny, 1816 * ''Eudistoma'' Caullery, 1909 ...

Family Pycnoclavellidae

Order Enterogona

Family Ascidiidae

Family Cionidae

Family
Polyclinidae Polyclinidae is a family of tunicates in the order Enterogona. It describes a group of marine animals. Genera The World Register of Marine Species lists the following genera: '' Aplidiopsis'' Lahille, 1890 '' Aplidium'' Savigny, 1816 *'' Fraga ...

Order Phlebobranchia

Family Corellidae

Family
Diazonidae Diazonidae is a family of sea squirts belonging to the suborder Phlebobranchia. Genera Genera in the family Diazonidae include:Turon, X.; Gittenberger, A.; Sanamyan, K. (2014). Diazonidae Seeliger, 1906. In: Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Lamber ...

Family Perophoridae

Order
Pleurogona Pleurogona is an order of tunicates which is no longer in use as it contains the same families as Stolidobranchia. One of the more invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes o ...

Family
Styelidae Styelidae is a family of ascidian tunicates.Lambert, G.; Gittenberger, A.; Sanamyan, K. (2015)Styelidae Sluiter, 1895.In: Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Lambert, G.; Rius, M.; Moreira Da Rocha, R.; Swalla, B.J.; Turon, X. (2015) Ascidiacea World ...

Order Stolidobranchia

Family
Molgulidae Molgulidae is a Family (biology), family of tunicates in the Class (biology), class Ascidiacea. Following a revision in 2007, the family Hexacrobylidae was synonymized with Molgulidae. Genera The World Register of Marine Species lists the follo ...
(sea grapes)

Family Pyuridae

Class Appendicularia (larvaceans)

Order Copelata

Family
Oikopleuridae Oikopleuridae is a family of larvacean tunicates (class Appendicularia). References * Van der Land, J. (2001). Appendicularia, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in ...

Family
Fritillariidae Fritillariidae is a family of tunicate A tunicate is a marine invertebrate animal, a member of the subphylum Tunicata (). It is part of the Chordata, a phylum which includes all animals with dorsal nerve cords and notochords (including verte ...

Class Thaliacea (pelagic tunicates)

Order Doliolida

Family
Doliolidae Doliolidae is a family of tunicates in the order Doliolida. Members of the family are pelagic and often found far away from coastlines.

Order Salpida (salps)

Family Salpidae (salps)

Order
Pyrosomida Pyrosomes, genus ''Pyrosoma'', are free-floating colonial tunicates that usually live in the upper layers of the open ocean in warm seas, although some may be found at greater depths. Pyrosomes are cylindrical or cone-shaped colonies up to long, ...
(pyrosomes)

Family
Pyrosomatidae Pyrosomes, genus ''Pyrosoma'', are free-floating colonial tunicates that usually live in the upper layers of the open ocean in warm seas, although some may be found at greater depths. Pyrosomes are cylindrical or cone-shaped colonies up to long, ...
(pyrosomes)

References

External links

Class Ascidiacea (sea squirts)

Order Aplousobranchia

Family Clavelinidae

Family Didemnidae

Family Holozoidae

Family Polycitoridae Polycitoridae is a family of tunicates belonging to the order Aplousobranchia. Genera: * '' Archidistoma'' Garstang, 1891 * '' Brevicollus'' Kott, 1990 * '' Cystodytes'' Drasche, 1884 * ''Eucoelium'' Savigny, 1816 * ''Eudistoma'' Caullery, 1909 ...

Family Pycnoclavellidae

Order Enterogona

Family Ascidiidae

Family Cionidae

Family Polyclinidae Polyclinidae is a family of tunicates in the order Enterogona. It describes a group of marine animals. Genera The World Register of Marine Species lists the following genera: *'' Aplidiopsis'' Lahille, 1890 *'' Aplidium'' Savigny, 1816 *'' Fraga ...

Order Phlebobranchia

Family Corellidae

Family Diazonidae Diazonidae is a family of sea squirts belonging to the suborder Phlebobranchia. Genera Genera in the family Diazonidae include:Turon, X.; Gittenberger, A.; Sanamyan, K. (2014). Diazonidae Seeliger, 1906. In: Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Lamber ...

Family Perophoridae

Order Pleurogona Pleurogona is an order of tunicates which is no longer in use as it contains the same families as Stolidobranchia. One of the more invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes o ...

Family Styelidae Styelidae is a family of ascidian tunicates.Lambert, G.; Gittenberger, A.; Sanamyan, K. (2015)Styelidae Sluiter, 1895.In: Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Lambert, G.; Rius, M.; Moreira Da Rocha, R.; Swalla, B.J.; Turon, X. (2015) Ascidiacea World ...

Order Stolidobranchia

Family Molgulidae Molgulidae is a Family (biology), family of tunicates in the Class (biology), class Ascidiacea. Following a revision in 2007, the family Hexacrobylidae was synonymized with Molgulidae. Genera The World Register of Marine Species lists the follo ... (sea grapes)

Family Pyuridae

Class Appendicularia (larvaceans)

Order Copelata

Family Oikopleuridae Oikopleuridae is a family of larvacean tunicates (class Appendicularia). References * Van der Land, J. (2001). Appendicularia, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in ...

Family Fritillariidae Fritillariidae is a family of tunicate A tunicate is a marine invertebrate animal, a member of the subphylum Tunicata (). It is part of the Chordata, a phylum which includes all animals with dorsal nerve cords and notochords (including verte ...

Class Thaliacea (pelagic tunicates)

Order Doliolida

Family Doliolidae Doliolidae is a family of tunicates in the order Doliolida. Members of the family are pelagic and often found far away from coastlines.

Order Salpida (salps)

Family Salpidae (salps)

Order Pyrosomida Pyrosomes, genus ''Pyrosoma'', are free-floating colonial tunicates that usually live in the upper layers of the open ocean in warm seas, although some may be found at greater depths. Pyrosomes are cylindrical or cone-shaped colonies up to long, ... (pyrosomes)

Family Pyrosomatidae Pyrosomes, genus ''Pyrosoma'', are free-floating colonial tunicates that usually live in the upper layers of the open ocean in warm seas, although some may be found at greater depths. Pyrosomes are cylindrical or cone-shaped colonies up to long, ... (pyrosomes)

References

External links

Family
Polycitoridae Polycitoridae is a family of tunicates belonging to the order Aplousobranchia. Genera: * '' Archidistoma'' Garstang, 1891 * '' Brevicollus'' Kott, 1990 * '' Cystodytes'' Drasche, 1884 * ''Eucoelium'' Savigny, 1816 * ''Eudistoma'' Caullery, 1909 ...

Family
Polyclinidae Polyclinidae is a family of tunicates in the order Enterogona. It describes a group of marine animals. Genera The World Register of Marine Species lists the following genera: '' Aplidiopsis'' Lahille, 1890 '' Aplidium'' Savigny, 1816 *'' Fraga ...

Family
Diazonidae Diazonidae is a family of sea squirts belonging to the suborder Phlebobranchia. Genera Genera in the family Diazonidae include:Turon, X.; Gittenberger, A.; Sanamyan, K. (2014). Diazonidae Seeliger, 1906. In: Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Lamber ...

Order
Pleurogona Pleurogona is an order of tunicates which is no longer in use as it contains the same families as Stolidobranchia. One of the more invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes o ...

Family
Styelidae Styelidae is a family of ascidian tunicates.Lambert, G.; Gittenberger, A.; Sanamyan, K. (2015)Styelidae Sluiter, 1895.In: Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Lambert, G.; Rius, M.; Moreira Da Rocha, R.; Swalla, B.J.; Turon, X. (2015) Ascidiacea World ...

Family
Molgulidae Molgulidae is a Family (biology), family of tunicates in the Class (biology), class Ascidiacea. Following a revision in 2007, the family Hexacrobylidae was synonymized with Molgulidae. Genera The World Register of Marine Species lists the follo ...
(sea grapes)

Family
Oikopleuridae Oikopleuridae is a family of larvacean tunicates (class Appendicularia). References * Van der Land, J. (2001). Appendicularia, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in ...

Family
Fritillariidae Fritillariidae is a family of tunicate A tunicate is a marine invertebrate animal, a member of the subphylum Tunicata (). It is part of the Chordata, a phylum which includes all animals with dorsal nerve cords and notochords (including verte ...

Family
Doliolidae Doliolidae is a family of tunicates in the order Doliolida. Members of the family are pelagic and often found far away from coastlines.

Order
Pyrosomida Pyrosomes, genus ''Pyrosoma'', are free-floating colonial tunicates that usually live in the upper layers of the open ocean in warm seas, although some may be found at greater depths. Pyrosomes are cylindrical or cone-shaped colonies up to long, ...
(pyrosomes)

Family
Pyrosomatidae Pyrosomes, genus ''Pyrosoma'', are free-floating colonial tunicates that usually live in the upper layers of the open ocean in warm seas, although some may be found at greater depths. Pyrosomes are cylindrical or cone-shaped colonies up to long, ...
(pyrosomes)