Clavelina dellavalleiis a colonial ascidian. Each zooid is up to 3 cm high. The test is transparent and covered by small white spots. Through the test, the pharynx with its 13 to 17 stigmata is clearly visible, as well as the white or bluish vertical line of the endostyle. Siphons are close and prominent. The atrial siphon may be underlined by a blue-purple margin. In the lower part of the zooid, the purple stomach and intestine are also visible. Blue ascidians arise from a short stalk erected from a basal stolon through which zooids are connected one another. Colonies are attached to rocks, sea-fans or seaweeds.
Clavelina dellavallei is found from surface to 10 meters deep in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Source : World Register of Marine Species
Dernière mise à jour 06-11-2024
Zooid : individual, single animal.
Test : or tunic: thick layer secreted by the mantel containing cellulose and protecting the animal.
Endostyle : groove through which food particles are moved up to the oesophagus.
Stolon : root-like element binding together the individuals of a colony.
Text : Anne Bay-Nouailhat © 2006 - 2024.
Photos : ©
Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat, William Desmartin. Published with their kind permission.
Websites and reference works : Consult bibliography
Image satellite: © Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community.
Données de distribution : Clavelina dellavallei in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-11-06.
Zooid : individual, single animal.
Test : or tunic: thick layer secreted by the mantel containing cellulose and protecting the animal.
Endostyle : groove through which food particles are moved up to the oesophagus.
Stolon : root-like element binding together the individuals of a colony.
Text : Anne Bay-Nouailhat © 2006 - 2024.
Photos : ©
Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat, William Desmartin. Published with their kind permission.
Websites and reference works : Consult bibliography
Bay-Nouailhat A., March 2006, Description of Clavelina dellavallei, [On line] https://www.european-marine-life.org/32/clavelina-dellavallei.php, consulted on 2024 November 06.
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Project manager in marine environment
Professional diver - Naturalist
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