Pycnoclavella diminuta

Pycnoclavella diminuta, known as the white-spotted sea squirt, white-spot ascidian,^[1] and white-spotted ascidian,^[2] is a species of tunicate (sea squirt), in the genus Pycnoclavella. Like all ascidians, these sessile animals are filter feeders.^[3]

Pycnoclavella diminuta
Pycnoclavella diminuta in Occidental Mindoro, Philippines
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Tunicata
Class:	Ascidiacea
Order:	Aplousobranchia
Family:	Clavelinidae
Genus:	Pycnoclavella
Species:	P. diminuta
Binomial name
Pycnoclavella diminuta (Kott, 1957)[1]
Synonyms
Archidistoma diminuta (Kott, 1957) Archidistoma diminutum (Kott, 1957) Archidistoma richeri Monniot, 1988 Archidistoma rubripunctum Monniot, 1988 Clavelina diminuta Kott, 1957 Clavelina nodula Kott, 1972

Description

Pycnoclavela diminuta lives in colonies composed of small clusters of zooids that originate from a common stalk. Each zooid is approximately 0.5–1 cm (0.20–0.39 in) in length. They are golden yellow-orange in colour and have white spots. The spots vary in shape and size, but are well defined, and are consistent throughout the colony.

This species can be confused with Pycnoclavella flava (formerly Clavina flava), which may also have white spots.^[2][4] But Pycnoclavela diminuta can be differentiated in that the spots are always clearly defined and always constant.^[2]

Distribution

This species occurs in numerous locations, including:^[2]

• Western Pacific Ocean
• Indo-West Pacific^[5]
• Australia^[6]
• Lord Howe Island
• New Caledonia
• Indonesia
• Philippines^[1]

Behaviour

Pycnoclavella diminuta is a sessile suspension feeder.^[1]

Habitat

This ascidian lives in depths from 5 to 20 metres^[1] in the benthic zone in caves and under ledges.^[2][5] It often occurs in environments with soft corals such as Dendronephthya and Scleronephthya.^[2]