Molgula

Last updated

Molgula
Molgula oculata 001.png
Molgula oculata; a) branchial orifice; b) atrial orifice
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Tunicata
Class:
Ascidiacea
Order:
Stolidobranchia
Family:
Molgulidae
Genus:
Molgula
Synonyms [1]
  • Anurella Lacaze-Duthiers, 1877
  • Ascopera Herdman, 1881
  • Astropera Pizon, 1898
  • Caesira Flemming, 1822
  • Ctenicella Lacaze-Duthiers, 1877
  • Cystingia Macleay, 1825
  • Eugyriopsis Roule, 1885
  • Euritteria Huntsman, 1922
  • Gymnocystis Giard, 1872
  • Lithonephria Giard, 1872 (misspelling)
  • Lithonephrya Giard, 1872
  • Meristocarpus Pizon, 1899
  • Mogula Kirkpatrick, 1905 (misspelling)
  • Molgulidium Seeliger, 1907
  • Molgulina Hartmeyer, 1914
  • Pera Stimpson, 1852
  • Syphonotethis Gervais, 1840
  • Xenomolgula Arnback, 1931

Molgula, or sea grapes, are very common, globular, individual marine tunicates roughly the size of grapes. [1]

Contents

They are translucent with two protruding siphons. They are found subtidally, attached to slow-moving submerged objects or organisms. All species of Molgula have a fluid-filled structure called the renal sac. [2] The renal sac contains nitrogenous wastes, solid concretions composed of weddellite and calcite, [3] and an apicomplexan symbiont called Nephromyces. [4]

In the western Atlantic Ocean, they range from the Arctic to North Carolina, to the center of the United States Eastern Seaboard. [5]

Species

Related Research Articles

<i>Ascidia</i>

Ascidia is a genus of tunicates in the family Ascidiidae.

<i>Pyura</i>

Pyura is a large genus of sessile ascidians that live in coastal waters at depths of up to 80 m (260 feet). Like all ascidians, Pyura are filter feeders. A few species, including Pyura chilensis are commercially fished.

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

<i>Styela</i> Genus of tunicates

Styela is a genus of tunicates. Styela clava, an edible species, is known as an invasive species in some areas.

<i>Clavelina</i>

Clavelina is genus of sea squirts, containing the following species:

<i>Eusynstyela</i>

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

Phlebobranchia Suborder of marine animals in the tunicates subphylum

Phlebobranchia is a suborder of sea squirts in the class Ascidiacea.

<i>Halocynthia</i>

Halocynthia is a genus of ascidian tunicates in the family Pyuridae. Species such as H. roretzi are used as food.

Stolidobranchia

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.

Aplousobranchia Suborder of marine animals in the tunicates subphylum

Aplousobranchia is a suborder of sea squirts in the class Ascidiacea. 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.

<i>Polycarpa</i> Genus of tunicates

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

Styelidae

Styelidae is a family of ascidian tunicates.

<i>Polyclinum</i>

Polyclinum is a genus of colonial sea squirts, tunicates in the family Polyclinidae.

Synoicum is a genus of colonial sea squirts, tunicates in the family Polyclinidae.

Eugyra are marine tunicates.

Pareugyrioides is a genus of marine tunicates.

<i>Cnemidocarpa</i> Genus of tunicates

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

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

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

<i>Symplegma</i>

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

References

  1. 1 2 Sanamyan, K.; Monniot, C. (2012). Molgula Forbes, 1848. In: Noa Shenkar, Arjan Gittenberger, Gretchen Lambert, Marc Rius, Rosana Moreira Da Rocha, Billie J. Swalla, Xavier Turon (2012) Ascidiacea World Database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=103509 on 2012-02-26
  2. ↑ Van Name, Willard Gibbs (1945). "The North and South American ascidians". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 84. hdl:2246/1186.
  3. ↑ Saffo, Mary Beth; Lowenstam, Heinz A. (1978-06-09). "Calcareous Deposits in the Renal Sac of a Molgulid Tunicate". Science. 200 (4346): 1166–1168. doi:10.1126/science.200.4346.1166. ISSN   0036-8075. PMID   17745108.
  4. ↑ "Malaria, Sea Grapes, and Kidney Stones: A Tale of Parasites Lost - The Loom". The Loom. 2010-08-24. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
  5. ↑ Andrew J. Martinez (2003). Marine Life of the North Atlantic: Canada to New England. Aqua Quest Publications. ISBN   9781881652328 . Retrieved 2007-02-17.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.