''Sycozoa cerebriformis'', (common name - brain ascidian) is a

sea squirt Ascidiacea, commonly known as the ascidians, tunicates (in part), and sea squirts (in part), is a polyphyletic class (biology), class in the subphylum Tunicate, Tunicata of sac-like marine (ocean), marine invertebrate filter feeders. Ascidians ar ...

in the family

Holozoidae Holozoidae is a family of sea squirts in the order Enterogona. Genera *'' Distaplia'' *'' Hypodistoma'' *'' Hypsistozoa '' *'' Neodistoma'' *'' Polydistoma'' *'' Protoholozoa'' *'' Pseudoplacentela'' *'' Sigillina'' *''Sycozoa ''Sycozoa'' is a ...

, first described by

Jean René Constant Quoy Jean René Constant Quoy (10 November 1790 in Maillé, Vendée, Maillé – 4 July 1869 in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime, Rochefort) was a French naval surgeon, zoologist and anatomist. In 1806, he began his medical studies at the school of naval ...

and

Joseph Paul Gaimard Joseph Paul Gaimard (31 January 1793 – 10 December 1858) was a French naval surgeon and naturalist. Biography Gaimard was born at Saint-Zacharie on January 31, 1793. He studied medicine at the naval medical school in Toulon, subsequent ...

in 1834 as ''Aplidie cerebriforme.'' The taxonomic decision which determined the name, ''Sycozoa cerebriformis'', and the species' synonymy was given by Patricia Kott in 1990. It is found from

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

, on the sea floor and in caves and crevices at depths up to 50 m.

Description

This sea-squirt is composed of a folded colony of

zooids A zooid or zoöid is a single animal that is part of a colonial animal. This lifestyle has been adopted by animals from separate unrelated taxa. Zooids are multicellular; their structure is similar to that of other solitary animals. The zooi ...

in double rows. The siphons run along the top of the twisted structure, which grows up to 15 cm. The colonies start as flattened fans. On growing and expanding, the colonies fold and bend resulting in a brain-like appearance.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q6459481 Aplousobranchia