''Styela plicata'', commonly known as pleated sea squirt, is a species 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 vertebrates). The subphylum was at one time ca ...

in the 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 ...

. This sessile filter feeder can expel water when threatened.

Description

This invasive species is Florida's largest tunicate.

Distribution

The range of ''Styela plicata'' has greatly expanded due to its ability to hitch a ride on ships' hulls. Preventative measures include anti-fouling paints, wood preservation, and slime control containing

tributyltin Tributyltin (TBT) is an umbrella term for a class of organotin compounds which contain the (C4H9)3 Sn group, with a prominent example being tributyltin oxide. For 40 years TBT was used as a biocide in anti-fouling paint, commonly known as botto ...

Habitat

This species can live in a wide range of conditions, in waters from 10° to 30°C and salinities between 22%-34% (Thiyagarajan & Qian, 2003) as well as pollution and brackish water. The different life cycle stages of Styela plicata have different habitat requirements for survival. The larval and juvenile stages of Styela plicata live on marinas and docks, oyster reefs, rocks and coarse woody debris: adults prefer marinas, docks and hard rocky substrates. Styela plicata can also live in coral reef habitats, and is found from the low intertidal zone to depths of 30 metres.

References

* Stolidobranchia Animals described in 1823 {{tunicata-stub