Description: English: A colony of tunicates, hemichordates between vertebrates and invertebrates. Clavelina moluccensis. Mariana Islands, Guam. Date: 26 October 2010, 09:27. Source: NOAA Photo Library: reef1122. Author: David Burdick.
Description: English: One Tree Reef. Variety of tunicate species including Clavelina moluccensis (blue top). Australia, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef. 1987. Date: 26 October 2010, 09:27. Source: NOAA Photo Library: reef4013. Author: Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPR.
This actually is a colonial filter feeding animal, though the individuals are borne in separate tubes of tunic. The 'filaments' of the light-bulbs form a groove in the wall of the pharynx, the endostyle. Here iodine is extracted from sea water to form a compound akin to thyroxin. Larvae are brooded at the base of each light-bulb.
Longitude (deg): -2.4. Latitude (deg): 50.5. Longitude (deg/min): 2ð 30' W. Latitude (deg/min): 50ð 30' N. Vice county name: Dorset. Vice county no.: 9. Country: England. Stage: Colony. Identified by: Malcolm Storey. Comment: on jetty pontoons. Category: macro-photograph. Image scaling: enlarged. Background: black background. Where photo was taken: In a compressorium. Orientation: Facing to top. Photographic equipment used: Canon EOS400D dSLR and MP-E 65mm x1 to x5 macro lens.
Longitude (deg): -2.4. Latitude (deg): 50.5. Longitude (deg/min): 2ð 30' W. Latitude (deg/min): 50ð 30' N. Vice county name: Dorset. Vice county no.: 9. Country: England. Stage: Colony. Identified by: Malcolm Storey. Comment: on jetty pontoons. Category: macro-photograph. Image scaling: highly enlarged. Background: black background. Where photo was taken: In a compressorium. Orientation: Facing to top. Photographic equipment used: Canon EOS400D dSLR and MP-E 65mm x1 to x5 macro lens.