Sea Potato (Boltenia ovifera)

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Live Sea Potato (Boltenia ovifera)
Please Note This Is A Live Science Specimen

The Sea Potato (Boltenia ovifera), also known as the Stalked Tunicate, is a distinctive solitary sea squirt recognized by its firm, rounded body attached to a flexible stalk. Found on subtidal rocky bottoms, in tidepools, and at very low water during spring tides, this tunicate is one of the more unusual and fascinating invertebrates of the Gulf of Maine.

Its coloration ranges from bright orange to reddish, brown, or tan, depending on habitat and age. When submerged, the Sea Potato extends its siphons to filter-feed on plankton and suspended organic matter. It is an excellent specimen for marine biology and invertebrate zoology studies, providing an important example of the evolutionary link between invertebrates and chordates.

Common name: Sea Potato, Stalked Tunicate
Scientific name: Boltenia ovifera
Locations: Subtidal rocky bottoms, tidepools, and very low water on spring tides
Seasonality: Available year-round
Colors: Mostly orange, but may appear reddish, brown, or tan
Size: 3” – 12”
Collected: By hand at low water, or by fishing boats and divers
Quantity: Sold by the each

Uses: Ideal for marine biology education, aquarium displays, or invertebrate research collections.

Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com.

Live Sea Potato (Boltenia ovifera)
Please Note This Is A Live Science Specimen

The Sea Potato (Boltenia ovifera), also known as the Stalked Tunicate, is a distinctive solitary sea squirt recognized by its firm, rounded body attached to a flexible stalk. Found on subtidal rocky bottoms, in tidepools, and at very low water during spring tides, this tunicate is one of the more unusual and fascinating invertebrates of the Gulf of Maine.

Its coloration ranges from bright orange to reddish, brown, or tan, depending on habitat and age. When submerged, the Sea Potato extends its siphons to filter-feed on plankton and suspended organic matter. It is an excellent specimen for marine biology and invertebrate zoology studies, providing an important example of the evolutionary link between invertebrates and chordates.

Common name: Sea Potato, Stalked Tunicate
Scientific name: Boltenia ovifera
Locations: Subtidal rocky bottoms, tidepools, and very low water on spring tides
Seasonality: Available year-round
Colors: Mostly orange, but may appear reddish, brown, or tan
Size: 3” – 12”
Collected: By hand at low water, or by fishing boats and divers
Quantity: Sold by the each

Uses: Ideal for marine biology education, aquarium displays, or invertebrate research collections.

Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com.

A bright orange sea potato found growing in a patch of sugar kelp.

A bright orange sea potato found growing in a patch of sugar kelp.

Tidepool Tim says,  “Sea potatoes are a unique sea squirt or tunicate in that they grow on a long stalk that is typically 3-4 times the size of the squirt itself.  We find very tiny potatoes in some of our tidepools in very high current areas. Sometimes we will get them anchored in a kelp holdfast community.  Speaking of communities, the sea potato's stalk serves as a place for other invertebrates to anchor themselves, feed on, or just cling to during the ebbing and flowing tides.  We have found them literally covered in a fuzz of skeleton shrimp, sea lettuce, crabs, brittlestars, borer clams, and some bryozoans attached to them. Fishing boats tear large clumps of these from the sea-floor as they dredge for scallops and sea urchins in our bay.  Sometimes these big clusters will wash up on the beaches here. Like any tunicate - this animal filters plankton from the seawater and strains out food particles passing them on to their primitive stomach and gut. As far as i know these have no commercial importance to humans as of yet.”