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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Genus: Eudistoma

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Tunicata > Ascidiacea (sea squirts) > Aplousobranchia > Family: Polycitoridae

A total of 123 species worldwide, nine of which are native to southern African seas.

Species native to southern Africa

Information from Monniot et al. (2001). Global figures are from World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS).

Eudistoma bituminis

Recorded in intertidal pools from Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Also collected from Mayotte in the Comoros islands.

 

Eudistoma caeruleum (Blue lollipop ascidian)

Distribution includes the KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique coasts, the west coast of Madagascar and Mayotte in the Comoros islands. Occurs in intertidal rock pools, including those with sand in them (Branch et al. 2010).

Eudistoma hospitale

Broad distribution, from the south-western Pacific to South Africa and Tanzania, occurring at depths ranging from low tide to 30 m.

 

Eudistoma illotum

Recorded from the Western Cape, South Africa, including Saldanha Bay, Kommetjie and Miller's Point (Cape Peninsula, on the False Bay coastline). Found under overhangs in the intertidal zone and in pools.

 

Eudistoma modestum

Recorded in the intertidal zone along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline (South Africa), including Isipingo and Sodwana Bay. Colonies occur on vertical rock faces exposed at low tide.

 

Eudistoma occultum

Recorded in the intertidal zone at Sea Point, Cape Town.

 

Eudistoma paesslerioides

Distribution includes East North Atlantic and Mozambique.

 

Eudistoma renieri

Recorded from St Francis Bay (Eastern Cape) and from Durban (KwaZulu-Natal).

 

Eudistoma rhodopyge

Recorded from the Cape to Durban, and also from Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius.

 

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