Giant Jelly Ascidian

Polycitor giganteus

Polycitor giganteus - Giant Jelly Ascidian
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Size: Colony size to 20 cm

Distribution: All SA coastal and gulf waters

Habitat: Rocky areas and reef

Depth: Subtidal to 10+ metres

This cloudy, translucent colonial ascidian forms a large hemispherical mass, attached to rocky reefs. It is most readily identified by the opaque orange or white bands around the opening of each siphon. At first glance, small colonies can be difficult to distinguish from Stomozoa australiensis, but in that species, the coloured markings are not restricted to the siphon, but are present over the entire zooid.