Also known as ascidians, sea squirts are commonly located across the Indo-pacific region. The depth of where a sea squirt is located often dictates whether its red-coloured ‘throat’ is visible, as lower frequencies of light are absorbed by the layers of water above. In deeper water the throat appears black.

Sea squirts are commonly found between 3m-50m underwater and are commonly attached to rocks, coral reef, ships and piers.

This species is known as a filter feeder, which means that they acquire nutrients by feeding on organic matter, food particles or smaller organisms (bacteria, microalgae and plankton) suspended in water, typically by having the water pass over or through a specialised filtering organ that sieves out and/or traps solids.

An individual that is only a few centimetres long can pump close to 200 litres of water per day.

Interesting Fact

Often mistaken for a type of sponge, this species is actually more closely related to vertebrates.