Perophora regina

Perophora regina is a species of colonial sea squirt in the genus Perophora. It is native to the tropical western Atlantic Ocean where it is found growing on mangrove roots on the Belize Barrier Reef.

Perophora regina
Preserved Specimen
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Ascidiacea
Order:
Phlebobranchia
Family:
Perophoridae
Genus:
Perophora
Species:
P. regina
Binomial name
Perophora regina
Goodbody & Cole, 1987[1]

Description

A colony of Perophora regina consists of a mat of slender, branching stolons, with short-stalked zooids growing at intervals. The zooids are so crowded together in mature colonies that the surface of the colony appears smooth. The zooids are 4 to 6 mm (0.16 to 0.24 in) long and on each there is a yellow neural gland between the siphons with a distinctive white spot on either side of this. Like Perophora viridis, the zooids have four rows of stigmata and the muscles in the mantle wall are predominantly longitudinal. This tunicate broods its embryos in a pouch at the lower right side of the atrium.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Perophora regina is found in scattered locations on the Belize Barrier Reef where it is found growing profusely on mangrove roots in fast moving water. It is particularly common on the free ends of dangling Rhizophora roots where it may completely cover lengths of 20 cm (8 in) at the tip. It sometimes grows loosely over the surface of sponges such as Haliclona. It does not seem to be tolerant of wide variations in salinity and temperature.[2]

References
  1. Karen Sanamyan (2010). "Perophora regina Goodbody & Cole, 1987". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
  2. Goodbody, Ivan (1994). "The Tropical Western Atlantic Perophoridae (Ascidiacea): I. The Genus Perophora". Bulletin of Marine Science. 55 (1): 176–192.
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