Sea Strawberry

Overview

The Sea Strawberry (Aplidium elegans) is a colonial sea squirt that forms firm, flattened, cushion-like masses. Often found in shades of vibrant pink, orange, or red, these benthic tunicates are native to the temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel, and the Mediterranean Sea.

Appearance

These colonial organisms typically grow as compact, globular masses attached to hard substrates like rocks or algae. The colony surface displays a distinct, meandering pattern created by the arrangement of individual zooids embedded within a common gelatinous test. A key identification feature is the oral siphon of each zooid, which is slightly prominent and bordered by eight small, white lobes. While the colony is generally pink or orange, it can occasionally appear white. The exhalant system consists of sinuous, translucent canals that lead to a few larger, more prominent openings.

Biology & behavior

As a colonial ascidian, Aplidium elegans functions as a single unit where individuals share a vascular system and common exhalant siphons. They are filter feeders that extract organic particles from the water column. Like other tunicates, they are hermaphroditic and reproduce by releasing larvae that resemble small tadpoles. While they are often found in moderately exposed rocky areas, they are generally indifferent to the presence of divers.