Genus: Atriolum
Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa
(animals) >
Bilateria > Deuterostomia >
Chordata > Tunicata >
Ascidiacea (sea squirts) > Aplousobranchia > Family:
Didemnidae
Nine known species
globally, with three of them native to southern Africa seas.
Species native to southern Africa
Information from Monniot et al. (2001),
unless otherwise indicated. Global figures are from World
Register of Marine Species (WoRMS).
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Atriolum marsupialis
First recorded from New Caledonia, and since recorded also
at Ibo Island in Mozambique and at Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Found a depths ranging from 10-15 m. |
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Atriolum quadratum
Known from the Western Pacific (Chuuk Island) and
Mozambique. |
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Atriolum robustum
According to Branch et al. (2010), this species occurs in
southern Africa, from Maputaland (northern KwaZulu-Natal) northwards. Also
occurs in Northern Australia, New Caledonia, Madagascar, Mayotte (Comoros
islands) and Mauritius. |
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Publications
- Branch GM, Griffiths CL, Branch ML and Beckley LE. 2010. Two
oceans - a guide to the marine life of southern Africa. Struik
Nature, Cape Town.
- 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 |
