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Ascidians

Diazona cf. formosa

Photo by Blogie
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

This is a colony of translucent sea squirts (or ascidians) with six white "petals" around their mouths (called oral siphons). The spiral zooids -- animals that are part of a colonial organism -- can be clearly seen through the nearly transparent test (the skin of the sea squirts).

Habitat:

Depths of 20 to 60m across the Indo-Pacific region.

Notes:

Spotted this lovely colony of ascidians in about 30m of water, at a dive site called Hammerhead Alley, off the eastern coast of Samal Island, Philippines. Curiously, I've only ever seen this on the eastern coast of the island...

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (33)

My pleasure entirely, YukoChartraw. Thanks!
This series just took my breath away! It's so beautiful - it's out of this world! Thank you for sharing these amazing shots!
Thank you for your kind words, Jellyfishnebula, manuelap1 and luciav1!
Thanks, Ashish! When we see these wondrous organisms, it reminds us that everything we've made with our hands has already been created by nature!
Congrats Blogie... Great Organism... look like Fiber made... I was struggling with my last spotting finishing.... so wishing very late...
Thanks, Atul! Really, it gives me so much pleasure to share my spottings on PN. :)
Congrats Blogie and thanks for all the wonderful spottings!!!!
Thanks, Jolly and Marta! Marta, I'm sure it would be great diving with a fellow Ranger! Do let me know if you find yourself out here. :)
Awesome spottings, Blogie! I can´t wait to dive in Philippines! :-)
Thanks, Leanne! This SOTD has inspired me to try and look for more info about these (and other species of) ascidians.
Incredible Blogie. Congratulations on SOTD & an amazing spot.
Thanks, Sachin and OnengDyah! And thanks very much for those Pablo Neruda verses, Tanya! Quite apt. :)
Enigmas You've asked me what the lobster is weaving there with his golden feet? I reply, the ocean knows this. You say, what is the ascidia waiting for in its transparent bell? What is it waiting for? I tell you it is waiting for time, like you. You ask me whom the Macrocystis alga hugs in its arms? Study, study it, at a certain hour, in a certain sea I know. You question me about the wicked tusk of the narwhal, and I reply by describing how the sea unicorn with the harpoon in it dies. You enquire about the kingfisher's feathers, which tremble in the pure springs of the southern tides? Or you've found in the cards a new question touching on the crystal architecture of the sea anemone, and you'll deal that to me now? You want to understand the electric nature of the ocean spines? The armored stalactite that breaks as it walks? The hook of the angler fish, the music stretched out in the deep places like a thread in the water? I want to tell you the ocean knows this, that life in its jewel boxes is endless as the sand, impossible to count, pure, and among the blood-colored grapes time has made the petal hard and shiny, made the jellyfish full of light and untied its knot, letting its musical threads fall from a horn of plenty made of infinite mother-of-pearl. I am nothing but the empty net which has gone on ahead of human eyes, dead in those darknesses, of fingers accustomed to the triangle, longitudes on the timid globe of an orange. I walked around as you do, investigating the endless star, and in my net, during the night, I woke up naked, the only thing caught, a fish trapped inside the wind. Pablo Neruda
@AprilWhite - I have no idea. I haven't seen any reference mentioning that, and I make it a point to not touch marine life as much as possible. At any rate, I don't think it's edible. ;)
Yes, it sure is wonderful! I hope we can keep it that way for the next generations. Thanks for all your kind words, guys!
What a wonderful world .. isn't it?
Congratulations Blogie no surprise incredible series as usually :):)
Amazing photo and thanks for sharing Blogie! Congrats for SOTD!
Thanks very much, Yasser! The more we bring the wonders of the sea out into the open via Project Noah, the more people will realize the need to protect our marine environment.
Blogie, we are lucky to have you as part of our community and the beautiful creatures of the Davao Gulf are lucky to have you as their advocate. You've given us a glimpse into a magical world and these ascidians are further proof that the sea will never cease to amaze. Congratulations for Spotting of the Day and thanks for all the wonderful contributions. ‎"The exceptional filtering capability of adult Sea Squirts causes them to accumulate pollutants. This property has made some species sensitive indicators of pollution." Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/posts/455641027790105 Twitter: http://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/226492937872240640
As usual, a great spotting and picture Blogie! beautiful !!
Thanks, Gerardo & Jolly! This one isn't very common. I've only seen it twice, and both times at the eastern side of Samal Island. Yeah, I suppose that has something to do with the currents. Or with pollution? Because that side is the one facing away from the city.
Fantastic spotting. Its location could have something to do with currents.
Wow you have to be kidding this is extraordinary i never seen any like this is incredible:):) is this one common in Philippines Blogie ?

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