Common Name
Violet tunicate (sea squirt)
Scientific Name
Botrylloides violaceus (Oka, 1927)
Status
Now present in Cape Breton waters
Description
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Colonial sea squirt
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Colony usually one solid color
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Formation of lobed sheets, 2-3mm thick
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Color can vary (purple, yellow, orange, pink, white)
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Zooids are usually organized into rows, chains, rough ovals, or branching
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Colony can re-grow from fragments
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Larvae settle in less than one day
Invasion History/Regional Sightings
The violet tunicate is considered invasive in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. We have sampled the violet tunicate in several harbours around Cape Breton Island. In partnership with Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, we are currently monitoring the presence of this invasive species in our local waters.
If you think you have seen the violet tunicate anywhere on Cape Breton Island, we'd like to hear from you! Please contact us at info@ProjectUFO.ca. If you have digital photographs and the location where you have seen it, that would also be helpful.
Specific Habitat Preferences
The violet tunicate prefers shallow subtidal waters which are less than 50m in depth. This species of tunicate is somewhat tolerant of polluted habitats.
Additional websites about the violet tunicate
- Identification card for Botrylloides violaceus - Salem Sound Coastwatch
- The violet tunicate in PEI (info and pictures) - from PEI fisheries and aquaculture
- Basic information for Botrylloides violaceus (A colonial sea squirt) - The Marine Life Information Network for Britain and Ireland
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