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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Family: Polyclinidae

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

Ten genera and 428 species worldwide, with four genera and 28 species native to southern African seas.

Genera native to southern Africa

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

Aplidiopsis

Twenty species worldwide, with one, Aplidiopsis tubiferus, native to southern African seas.

 

Aplidium

A total of 269 species worldwide, 20 of which are native to southern African seas.

Polyclinum

A total of 44 species worldwide, five of which are native to southern African seas.

 

Synoicum

A total of 81 species worldwide, two of which are native to southern African 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