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Project Noah Nature School
Rhopalaea crassa
This Fluorescent Blue Tunicates is around 3 cm in height. Tunicate, also called urochordate , any member of the subphylum Tunicata (Urochordata) of the phylum Chordata. Small marine animals, they are found in great numbers throughout the seas of the world. Adult members are commonly embedded in a tough secreted tunic containing cellulose (a glucose polysaccharide not normally found in animals). The less modified forms are benthic (bottom-dwelling and sessile), while the more advanced forms are pelagic (floating and swimming in open water). A characteristic tadpole larva develops in the life cycle, and in one group (the appendicularians, or larvaceans) the adult closely resembles this larva, which has many features in common with other chordates. Most chordate features disappear at metamorphosis.
Although rarely eaten by humans, tunicates are an important link in the food chain and thus indirectly provide humans with a source of food. Tunicates contain some unusual chemicals, and some of these may prove useful as drugs. Some tunicates are fouling organisms that grow on ships’ hulls. Their main interest to humans is in providing clues to the possible ancestry of vertebrates.
Spotted on Feb 10, 2015
Submitted on Feb 10, 2015
27 Comments (1–25)
Thanks, @Lisa and PN Rangers who voted for this.
Am honoured.
Congrats AlbertKang, your delicate
Fluorescent Blue Tunicates placed 3rd in the "other" category for the Best of 2015! Here is the link for the '2016 Best Wildlife Photo mission so you can add more fantastic spottings for this year! http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/2004...
https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/pho...
Thanks, @Ashley for this honour! :)
Congrats Albert, your unique Tunicates has made the top 10 other spottings in the '2015 Best Wildlife Photo' mission! Rangers are voting on the top 10 other spottings, and the top 3 will be announced on February 7th. The top 3 spottings will be commented on here on the site, but make sure you keep a look out on our Facebook app page for the announcement as well! Congratulations on making the top 10! https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah
Thanks, @sunnyjosef :)
Congrats to you Albert!!! great find!
Thanks, @Yasser for another SOTD :)
Thanks, @Dilan, @jeslowery, @Mark, @Leanna, @Agnes, @James, @amadeus.4 and @Antonio for your kind words and comments.
Congratulations Albert. Superb spotting.
Great find Albert,amazing creature,congrats on the well deserved SOTD and thanks for sharing such a interesting and beautifull organisms in your spotting page
Congratulations on your SOTD Albert! Awesome pics and love the info. Thank you for sharing :)
Congrats Albert
Congrats Albert!
Congratulations Albert!
Beautiful animal.
wow - so cool!
Congrats Albert!!Amazing creature!!
Albert, this marvelous creature and close relative of vertebrates is our Spotting of the Day! Once again, you've wowed us with your photography and we can't thank you enough for all the contributions you've made. Congrats again!
Facebook:
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congrats!
Thanks, @Antonio.
This particular Tunicate is very prolific in certain areas of Philippines.
Not sure about other countries though.
Gorgeous find Albert,congrats and thanks for sharing
Thanks, @venus and @Leuba :)
@andrew - I have seen this also in Anilao but not many.
However, over in Moal-Boal, they are practically everywhere
Thanks, @andrew, @Gerardo and @Leana.
And yes, Sea Squirts is one of the common name for Tunicates
I find these creatures fascinating and your photos have captured their beauty so well. thanks for the information - I am pleased that humans are not eating them as well...
Nicely done albert
It's dainty and beautiful Albert! Nice spot and shot!