Styela montereyensis, also called the Stalked Tunicate, Monterey stalked tunicate, and the Long-stalked sea squirt is a
solitary ascidian tunicate

Tunicate

Tunicates, also known as urochordates, are members of the subphylum Tunicata, previously known as Urochordata, a group of underwater saclike filter feeders with incurrent and excurrent siphons that is classified within the phylum Chordata. While most tunicates live on the ocean floor, others such...

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Description

Styela montereyensis is yellow to dark red brown in colour. It is a solitary species, growing, often in loose groups. It normally grows to about 8-15 cm in exposed sites. However, in the more rare, calm habitats, it can grow up to about 25 cm. The body of Styela montereyensis is elongate and cylindrical, and is attached to a thinner stalk approximately the same length as the body. Its siphons are close together at the distal end, with its oral siphon pointing to the side or downward. The atrial siphon points straight upward. It has a leathery tunic displaying noticeable longitudinal grooves and ridges that extend down the entire length of the body. This species is commonly fouled with foreign matter and small organisms such as algae and hydroids when occurring in harbors, but remains clean in wave-swept habitats.

Habitat

Styela montereyensis lives in the low intertidal zone up to approximately 30 m in depth. It is a fairly common species within its range, and can be found firmly attached to substrata, pilings, jetties, and on subtidal reefs in waters ranging from calm to extremely rough.

Specimens in the Pacific Northwest rarely occur in inland waters, but are normally found in the outer straits and open coast.

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