Didemnum

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Didemnum
Sea Squirts Didemnum molle.jpg
Didemnum molle
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Tunicata
Class: Ascidiacea
Order: Aplousobranchia
Family: Didemnidae
Genus: Didemnum
Savigny, 1816
Synonyms
List
  • DidemniumSavgny, 1816
  • DidemnoidesDrasche, 1883
  • DiplosomoidesHerdman, 1886
  • HypurgonSollas, 1903
  • LeptoclinumMilne Edwards, 1842
  • SarcodidemnoidesOka & Willey, 1892
  • TetradidemnumDella Valle, 1881

Didemnum is a genus of colonial tunicates in the family Didemnidae. It is the most speciose genus in the didemnid family. [1] [2] Species in this genus often have small calcareous spicules embedded in the tunic and form irregular or lobed colonies. Some Didemnum species, including Didemnum vexillum and Didemnum perlucidem are considered invasive species. [3] In early 2006, Didemnum vexillum was found covering a 230 km2 area of cobble habitat in Georges Bank off the coast of New England, [4] and is classified as an invasive species of greatest concern in coastal areas throughout Europe, [5] New Zealand, and North America. [3] Didemnum sp. invasions have also been recorded in Canada, the Mediterranean, and the Netherlands. [6]

Species in this genus can be found in tropical or temperate regions. Some tropical species such as Didemnum molle have photosynthetic algae in their tunics. [7]

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus Didemnum: [8]

Tunicate colonies of Didemnum sp. overgrowing the fronds of dark green algae. These colonies can quickly overgrow most surfaces and other organisms. Didemnum overgrowing dark green algae.jpg
Tunicate colonies of Didemnum sp. overgrowing the fronds of dark green algae. These colonies can quickly overgrow most surfaces and other organisms.

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<i>Microcosmus</i> Genus of sea squirts

Microcosmus is a genus of tunicates in the family Pyuridae, containing the following species:

<i>Molgula</i> Genus of tunicates

Molgula, or sea grapes, are very common, globular, individual marine tunicates roughly the size of grapes.

<i>Eusynstyela</i> Genus of sea squirts

Eusynstyela is a genus of ascidian tunicates in the family Styelidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stolidobranchia</span> Order of sea squirts

Stolidobranchia is an order of tunicates in the class Ascidiacea. The group includes both colonial and solitary animals. They are distinguished from other tunicates by the presence of folded pharyngeal baskets. This provides the etymology of their name: in ancient Greek, στολίς, ίδος means the "fold" of a cloth. Stolidobranchian sea squirts are also characterized by the complete absence of an abdomen. The abdominal organs of other tunicates are instead located to one side of the pharyngeal basket in this group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aplousobranchia</span> Suborder of marine animals in the tunicates subphylum

Aplousobranchia is an order of sea squirts in the class Ascidiacea, first described by Fernando Lahille in 1886. They are colonial animals, and are distinguished from other sea squirts by the presence of relatively simple pharyngeal baskets. This provides the etymology of their name: in ancient greek, ἁ.πλοος-ους (ha.ploos-ous) means "simple". The posterior part of the abdomen contains the heart and gonads, and is typically larger than in other sea squirts.

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<i>Polyclinum</i> Genus of sea squirts

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Eugyra are marine tunicates.

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<i>Lissoclinum</i> Genus of tunicates

Lissoclinum is a genus of tunicates.

<i>Leptoclinides</i>

Leptoclinides is a genus of tunicates belonging to the family Didemnidae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution.

Polycitor is a genus of tunicates belonging to the family Polycitoridae.

<i>Trididemnum</i> Genus of tunicates

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<i>Distaplia</i>

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<i>Polysyncraton</i> Genus of sea squirt

Polysyncraton is a genus of tunicates belonging to the family Didemnidae.

References

  1. ↑ Moreno, T.; Rocha, R. (June 2008). "Phylogeny of the Aplousobranchia (Tunicata: Ascidiacea)". Revista Brasileira de Zoologia. 25 (2): 269–298. doi: 10.1590/S0101-81752008000200016 .
  2. ↑ Kott, Patricia (15 Aug 2001). "The AUSTRALIAN ASC1DIACEA PART 4, APLOUSOBRANCHIA (3), DIDEMNIDAE". Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 47.
  3. 1 2 "Marine Nuisance Species". Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Center. 17 February 2016.
  4. ↑ Valentine, Page C.; Carman, Mary R.; Blackwood, Dann S.; Heffron, Erin J. (2007). "Ecological observations on the colonial ascidian Didemnum sp. in a New England tide pool habitat". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 342 (1): 109–121. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2006.10.021.
  5. ↑ Ian Laing; James Bussell; Kate Somerwill. "Project report: Assessment of the impacts of Didemnum vexillum and options for the management of the species in England".
  6. ↑ "Invasion der Pfankuchen" Der Spiegel, 1/2006, p. 102
  7. ↑ Ruppert, Edward E.; Richard S. Fox; Robert D. Barnes (2004). Invertebrate Zoology: A Functional Evolutionary Approach (7th ed.). Delhi, India. ISBN   8131501043. OCLC   970002268.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ↑ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Didemnum Savigny, 1816". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2022-08-17.


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