BIOTIC Species Information for Morchellium argus
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| Researched by | Dr Keith Hiscock | Data supplied by | MarLIN | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | This information is not refereed. | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Morchellium argus | Common name | A colonial sea squirt | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | ZD28 | Recent Synonyms | None | ||||||||||||
| Phylum | Chordata | Subphylum | Tunicata | ||||||||||||
| Superclass | Class | Ascidiacea | |||||||||||||
| Subclass | Order | Enterogona | |||||||||||||
| Suborder | Aplousobranchiata | Family | Polyclinidae | ||||||||||||
| Genus | Morchellium | Species | argus | ||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | No text entered | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | Howson & Picton, 1997, | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Cushion |
Feeding method | Active suspension feeder |
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| Mobility/Movement | Permanent attachment |
Environmental position | Epifaunal |
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| Typical food types | Suspended organic matter. | Habit | Attached | ||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Not relevant | Flexibility | High (>45 degrees) | ||||||||||||
| Fragility | Fragile | Size | Small-medium(3-10cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | Up to 4 cm | Growth Rate | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | None | Dependency | Independent | ||||||||||||
| Sociability | Colonial | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | No text entered | ||||||||||||||
| Biology References | Berrill, 1950, Teo & Ryland, 1995, | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | Recorded from all around the coasts of Britain and Ireland except parts of the eastern coast of England and parts of the eastern and southern coasts of Ireland. Few records from Shetland. | ||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | Known from Britain and Ireland and parts of the French Atlantic coast. | ||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | Not researched | Depth range | +1 to -10 m chart datum | ||||||||||||
| Migratory | Non-migratory / Resident | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution Additional Information | No text entered | ||||||||||||||
| Substratum preferences | Bedrock Large to very large boulders Small boulders |
Physiographic preferences | Open coast Sealoch Estuary Enclosed coast / Embayment Offshore seabed Strait / sound Ria / Voe |
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| Biological zone | Lower Eulittoral Sublittoral Fringe Upper Infralittoral Lower Infralittoral |
Wave exposure | Exposed Moderately Exposed Sheltered Very Sheltered Extremely Sheltered Ultra Sheltered |
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| Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Strong (3-6 kn) Moderately Strong (1-3 kn) Weak (<1 kn) Very Weak (negligible) |
Salinity | Full (30-40 psu) Variable (18-40 psu) |
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| Habitat Preferences Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution References | Berrill, 1950, Picton & Costello, 1998, JNCC, 1999, NBN, 2002, | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
| Reproductive type | Fission Permanent hermaphrodite |
Developmental mechanism | Lecithotrophic |
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| Reproductive Season | June to October | Reproductive Location | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Insufficient information | Regeneration potential | No | ||||||||||||
| Life span | 1-2 years | Age at reproductive maturity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Generation time | <1 year | Fecundity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | Eggs ca 0.34 mm diameter | Fertilization type | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
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| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | Eggs are about 0.34 mm diameter. Larvae are held in the atrial cavity and have a trunk about 0.8 mm long. The free-swimming period of the larva is about 2-3 hours. Berrill (1950) suggests that brooding colonies are present in September and October but records in the Plymouth Marine Fauna suggest breeding June to September. | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | Berrill, 1950, MBA, 1957, | ||||||||||||||
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