Herdmania momus

Taxobox
name = "Herdmania momus"

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image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Urochordata
classis = Ascidiacea
ordo = Pleurogona
subordo = Stolidobranchia
familia = Pyuridae
genus = "Herdmania"
species = "H. momus"
binomial = "Herdmania momus"
binomial_authority = (Savigny, 1816)

The solitary ascidian "Herdmania momus" is one of the most commonly encountered species of ascidians. While commonly referred to simply as "sea squirts", this name is ambiguous, as it can refer to any member of the sub-phylum Urochordata.

This solitary ascidian is sometimes referred to as the "red-throated ascidian", as its two siphons are a vivid red in colour. However, most solitary ascidians that are encountered are so covered in algae that the coloration is often not visible. When found at depth the red colourations may also not be visible, as lower frequencies of light are absorbed by the layers of water above.

Like all ascidians, "H. momus" is a sessile filter feeder. It is commonly found attached to rocks from depths of 3–50 metres (10–160 ft).

External links

* [http://faunanet.gov.au/wos/factfile.cfm?Fact_ID=127 Wildlife of Sydney - Red-throated Ascidian]
* [http://images.google.com/images?as_q=Herdmania%20momusnum=20btnG=Google+Searchas_epq=hl=as_oq=as_eq=imgsz=as_filetype=imgc=as_sitesearch=imgsafe=active Search for Pictures]
* [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Herdmania%20momus Search for Scholarly Articles]