Rafi Amar, Israel
Info
Halocynthia spinosa Sluiter, 1905
Halocynthia is a genus of sea squirts in the family Pyuridae. Some members of the genus, such as Halocynthia roretzi, are even used for human nutrition.
Halocynthia spinosa is a solitary sea squirt. It has a spiny appearance, which is what the species name "spinosa" refers to. The sea squirt is cream-colored, and has two siphons that look like a bicolor, cream-purple-red or brown flower with a crown border of thorns.
The spiny sea squirt can be found in crevices and shady areas of coral reefs. It feeds on planktonic microorganisms through filtration.
The sea squirt is a hermaphrodite. All reproductive measurements showed peak activity in the summer (June–August) and a short period of dormancy in the winter months (December–March). The larvae have the shape of a tadpole and live planktonically. The tail forms the dorsal column, which corresponds to the spine of vertebrates. After 12 to 24 hours it settles and develops into the adult stage on the substrate in 20 days.
The spiny sea squirt is rarely encountered on man-made structures, making the introduction of Halocynthia spinosa into new regions as part of a vegetation community relatively unlikely.
The sea squirt is host to the symbiotic copepod Bonnierilla acollaris Schellenberg.
Similar to Halocynthia microspinosa.
Synonymised names:
Halocynthia arabica Monniot C., 1965 · unaccepted (original combination)
Halocynthia defectiva Millar, 1962 · unaccepted (original combination)
Halocynthia is a genus of sea squirts in the family Pyuridae. Some members of the genus, such as Halocynthia roretzi, are even used for human nutrition.
Halocynthia spinosa is a solitary sea squirt. It has a spiny appearance, which is what the species name "spinosa" refers to. The sea squirt is cream-colored, and has two siphons that look like a bicolor, cream-purple-red or brown flower with a crown border of thorns.
The spiny sea squirt can be found in crevices and shady areas of coral reefs. It feeds on planktonic microorganisms through filtration.
The sea squirt is a hermaphrodite. All reproductive measurements showed peak activity in the summer (June–August) and a short period of dormancy in the winter months (December–March). The larvae have the shape of a tadpole and live planktonically. The tail forms the dorsal column, which corresponds to the spine of vertebrates. After 12 to 24 hours it settles and develops into the adult stage on the substrate in 20 days.
The spiny sea squirt is rarely encountered on man-made structures, making the introduction of Halocynthia spinosa into new regions as part of a vegetation community relatively unlikely.
The sea squirt is host to the symbiotic copepod Bonnierilla acollaris Schellenberg.
Similar to Halocynthia microspinosa.
Synonymised names:
Halocynthia arabica Monniot C., 1965 · unaccepted (original combination)
Halocynthia defectiva Millar, 1962 · unaccepted (original combination)
