Genus: Clavelina
Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa
(animals) >
Bilateria > Deuterostomia >
Chordata > Tunicata >
Ascidiacea (sea squirts) > Aplousobranchia > Family: Clavelinidae
Forty-seven known species worldwide, of which
three
are native to the seas of southern Africa and one is naturalised in
the region.
Species native to southern Africa
Information from Monniot et al. (2001),
unless otherwise indicated.
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Clavelina enormis
Recorded from Simon's Bay, Cape Peninsula, but description
inadequate. Further records of the species from the African east coast and
Indian Ocean islands, are probably of Clavelina moluccensis. |
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Clavelina roseola
Recorded from South Africa. |
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Clavelina steenbrasensis
Recorded from False Bay and Mossel Bay (Western Cape,
South Africa). |
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Species naturalised in southern Africa
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Clavelina lepadiformis (Light-bulb sea squirt)
Native to Europe but introduced to South Africa where its distribution
extends from Saldanha Bay (Western Cape) to Durban (KwaZulu-Natal),
occurring in harbours and sheltered lagoons (e.g. Knysna) (Picker &
Griffiths 2011). First recorded in 2001 in South Africa; probably brought
into the region on ship hulls. Populations (possibly introduced) have also
been recorded from Morocco, Madeira and the Azores Islands. |
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Publications
- Monniot C, Monniot F and Griffiths CL. 2001. South African
ascidians. Annals of the South African Museum 108(1): 1-141.
- Picker M and Griffiths C. 2011. Alien and Invasive Animals -
A South African Perspective. Struik Nature, Cape Town.
Text by Hamish Robertson |
