Family: Didemnidae
Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa
(animals) >
Bilateria > Deuterostomia >
Chordata > Tunicata >
Ascidiacea (sea squirts) > Aplousobranchia
Nine genera and about 586 species worldwide,
with seven genera and 32 species native to southern African seas and a
further species that is naturalised in the region.
Genera native to southern Africa
Information mainly from Monniot et al. (2001).
Global figures are from World
Register of Marine Species (WoRMS).
|
Atriolum Nine known species
globally, with three of them native to southern Africa seas. |
|
|
Didemnum
A total of 229 known species worldwide, with 14 of them recorded from southern
African seas. |
 |
|
Diplosoma
A total of 41 known species worldwide, with two of them native to southern
African seas, and another naturalised in the region. |
 |
|
Leptoclinides A total of 77
species worldwide, with one species, Leptoclinides capensis, native
to southern African seas. |
|
|
Lissoclinum
A total of 62 species worldwide, four of which are native to southern
African seas. |
|
|
Polysyncraton
A total of 97 species worldwide, five of which are native to southern
African seas. |
|
|
Trididemnum
A total of 69 species worldwide, three of which are native to southern African
seas. |
|
Publications
- Monniot C, Monniot F and Griffiths CL. 2001. South African
ascidians. Annals of the South African Museum 108(1): 1-141.
Text by Hamish Robertson |
