BIOTIC Species Information for Styela spp.
| |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Researched by | Sean Lindsley-Leake | Data supplied by | MarLIN | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | This information is not refereed | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Styela spp. | Common name | A sea squirt | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | ZD103 | Recent Synonyms | |||||||||||||
| Phylum | Chordata | Subphylum | |||||||||||||
| Superclass | Class | Ascidiacea | |||||||||||||
| Subclass | Order | Stolidobranchia | |||||||||||||
| Suborder | Family | Styelidae | |||||||||||||
| Genus | Styela | Species | |||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | Millar, 1970, | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Feeding method | ||||||||||||||
| Mobility/Movement | Permanent attachment |
Environmental position | |||||||||||||
| Typical food types | Habit | Attached | |||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Flexibility | High (>45 degrees) | |||||||||||||
| Fragility | Intermediate | Size | Medium(11-20 cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | Growth Rate | ||||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | Dependency | Independent | |||||||||||||
| Sociability | Solitary | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Biology References | Millar, 1970, | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | |||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | |||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | Depth range | ||||||||||||||
| Migratory | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Substratum preferences | Physiographic preferences | ||||||||||||||
| Biological zone | Wave exposure | ||||||||||||||
| Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Salinity | ||||||||||||||
| Habitat Preferences Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution References | |||||||||||||||
| Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
| Reproductive type | Permanent hermaphrodite |
Developmental mechanism | Lecithotrophic |
||||||||||||
| Reproductive Season | April to November | Reproductive Location | Water column | ||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Annual episodic | Regeneration potential | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Life span | 1-2 years | Age at reproductive maturity | <1 year | ||||||||||||
| Generation time | <1 year | Fecundity | 20000 | ||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | 150 µm | Fertilization type | External | ||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | Although it is hermaphroditic, Styela is ordinarily self-sterile. Eggs and sperm are shed between 4 and 7 P.M., and fertilization takes place when the ripe gametes from two different individuals are mixed. The mature unfertilized egg is approximately 150 microns in diameter, and has a tough membrane, the chorion, to which a few follicle cells adhere at the outer surface. Between the chorion and the egg surface, there are small, spherical inner follicle cells ("nurse cells"), which contain yellow granules. The peripheral layer of the egg is clear and contains minute yellow granules, and the central part of the egg consists of grey yolk platelets. The germinal vesicle is large and clear, and is excentrically placed, near the animal pole; it ruptures and maturation begins at about the time when the eggs are discharged. The maturation spindle remains at the metaphase of the first division until the sperm enters. | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | Berrill, 1929, Bourque et al., 2007, Millar, 1970, | ||||||||||||||
BIOTIC - Biological Traits Information Catalogue
| About MarLIN | Contact, Enquiries & Feedback | Terms & Conditions | Funding | Glossary | Accessibility | Privacy | Sponsorship |
BIOTIC (Biological Traits Information Catalogue) by MarLIN (Marine Life Information Network) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available at http://www.marlin.ac.uk/termsandconditions. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own terms and conditions and they may or may not be available for reuse. Based on a work at www.marlin.ac.uk.