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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Family: Ascidiidae

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Tunicata > Ascidiacea (sea squirts) > Phlebobranchia

Five genera and 150 species worldwide, with one genus and eight species native to southern African seas, and a further genus and species that is naturalised in the region.

Genera native to southern Africa

Information from Monniot et al. (2001) and World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS).

Ascidia

A total of 125 species worldwide, eight of which are native to southern African seas.

 

Genera naturalised in southern Africa

Ascidiella

A total of three species worldwide, with one of them, Ascidiella aspersa, naturalised in southern African seas (native to European seas).

 

Publications

  • Monniot C, Monniot F and Griffiths CL. 2001. South African ascidians. Annals of the South African Museum 108(1): 1-141.

Text by Hamish Robertson