Gulf of Maine Tunicates (Sea Squirts - 6 Species)
Gulf of Maine Tunicates (Sea Squirts - 6 Species)
Gulf of Maine Tunicates (Sea Squirts - 6 species) may include:
Depending on the “catch of the day,”
Common name: sea grape
Scientific name: Molgula spp.
Locations: mooring lines, buoys, traps, pilings, floats, salmon pens, undersides of rocks
Seasonality: available year round
Colors: dull gray or translucent gray
Size: 1/2" - 1"
Collected: by hand, scrape off rocks and lines
Quantity: sold by the each
Common name: sea vase, sea squirt
Scientific name: Ciona intestinalis
Locations: mooring lines, buoys, traps, pilings, floats, salmon pens
Seasonality: available year round
Colors: iridescent yellow
Size: 1" - 4"
Collected: by hand
Quantity: sold by the each
Common name: sea potato or stalked tunicate
Scientific name: Boltenia ovifera
Locations: subtidal rocky bottoms, tidepools, low, low water on spring tides
Seasonality: available year round
Colors: mostly orange but can be reddish or just brown or tan
Size: 3" - 12"
Collected: by hand at low water or fishing boats or divers
Quantity: sold by the each
Common name: golden star tunicate
Scientific name: Botryllus schlosseri
Locations: found on pilings, floats, rocks, buoys, kelp, & in tide-pools
Seasonality: available year round
Colors: peachy - brown and black with white and yellow zooids
Size: 1/4" - 6"
Collected: by hand, knife to detach them from rocks
Quantity: sold by the each
Common name: sea peach
Scientific name: Halocynthia aurantium
Locations: found on pilings, floats, rocks, buoys, kelp, & in tide-pools
Seasonality: available year round
Colors: peachy
Size: 1" - 4"
Collected: by hand, knife to detach them from rocks
Quantity: sold by the each