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