BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Molgula manhattensis
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Dr Keith Hiscock	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Molgula manhattensis	Common name	Sea grapes
MCS Code	ZD151	Recent Synonyms	None

Phylum	Chordata	Subphylum	Tunicata
Superclass		Class	Ascidiacea
Subclass		Order	Pleurogona
Suborder	Stolidobranchiata	Family	Molgulidae
Genus	Molgula	Species	mahattensis
Subspecies

Additional Information	Several species had, until recently, been included in Molgula manhattensis: Molgula simplex Alder & Hancock, 1870; Molgula siphonata Alder 1850; Molgula socialis Alder 1848, and Molgula tubifera Orstedt 1844 (Connor & Picton in Howson & Picton, 1997). Separation for the purpose of this review has not been carried out as it is uncertain to what extent authors of papers have worked with Molgula manhattensis sensu stricto. It also seems (Kott 1976 quoted in Kott 1985) that the eastern Atlantic species may be Molgula tubifera and that Molgula manhattensis occurs on the Atlantic coast of North America from Maine to Lousiana. Nevertheless, the Species Directory (Howson & Picton, 1997) lists Molgula manhattensis for Britain and Ireland and so no change in name is suggested here.
Taxonomy References	Millar, 1970, Howson & Picton, 1997, Kott, 1985,