This colonial ascidian encrusts jetty pylons, rocks and algae. It has zooids embedded in a clear test, however it does not form systems. Instead each zooid opens independently to the test and is visible as a semi-transparent bean-shaped body. Overall, the colony is usually a yellowish orange colour, but can also be found in shades of orange or red. It can be distinguished from the closely related and similarly coloured S. rubra by its transparent body wall.
