Red Sea Squirt (Ascidiacea sp.)

Phylum: Chordata, Class: Ascidiacea

Range: Caribbean Size: 4 in.

 Diet: Microplankton

Reef Safe: Yes

Temperament: Peaceful

Natural History: The Red Sea Squirt is a primitive chordate (Urochordata) that lives its adult life as a filter-feeder. It removes single-celled organisms from the water column by drawing water in through one siphon and discharging it through another. Oddly, this invertebrate is closely related to the fishes, but only its larval form reveals its true ancestry.

Husbandry: The Red Sea Squirt requires an aquarium with live rock and sand and microplankton. Some type of frozen microplankton will likely be required to keep this animal alive in captivity. The term 'Ascidiacea' is a family grouping, and does not indicate the genus of this difficult-to-identify primitive chordate.

AKA: Red Tunicate