Overgrowing mat tunicate
Trididemnum solidum
(Van Name, 1902)

Description:
The zooids are embedded in a tough, leatherly tunic. Their excurrent siphons empty into thin internal chambers that have relatively small outflow openings. The incurrent siphons are small and scattered over the surface of the tunic. The tunic is in shades of gray, but can be blue green, green or white; it is rather hard through the abundance of stellate spicules.

Habitat:
Inhabit shallow reefs. Encrust and often overgrow living corals and sponges. Also in lagoons on mangroves.

Distribution:
Common Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.

Remarks:
Positive identification requires microscopic examination of the internal body parts. The zooids have a branchial sac with three rows of stigmata, a single testis about which the sperm duct is spirally coiled and lack an atrial languet.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Tunicata
Class Ascidiacea
Genus Trididemnum
Species Trididemnum solidum

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Trididemnum solidum (Van Name, 1902)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Overgrowing mat tunicate [English]

Humann, P., 1992. Reef Creature Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas, (ed. N. Deloach). New World Publications, Inc., Paramount Miller Graphics, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida.

Van Name, W.G., 1921. Ascidians of the West Indian Region and Southeastern United States. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., 44: 283-494.

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