Morchellium argus

Researched By	Dr Keith Hiscock	Data Supplied By	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Morchellium argus	Common name	A colonial sea squirt
MCS Code	ZD28	Recent Synonyms	None
Phylum	Chordata	Subphylum	Tunicata
Superclass		Class	Ascidiacea
Subclass		Order	Enterogona
Suborder	Aplousobranchiata	Family	Polyclinidae
Genus	Morchellium	Species	argus
Subspecies
Additional Information	No text entered
Taxonomy References	Howson & Picton, 1997
General Biology
Growth form	Cushion	Feeding method	Active suspension feeder
Mobility/Movement	Permanent attachment	Environmental position	Epifaunal
Typical food types	Suspended organic matter.	Habit	Attached
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	High (>45 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Up to 4 cm	Growth Rate	Insufficient information
Adult dispersal potential	None	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Colonial
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information	No text entered
Biology References	Berrill, 1950, Teo & Ryland, 1995
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Recorded from all around the coasts of Britain and Ireland except parts of the eastern coast of England and parts of the eastern and southern coasts of Ireland. Few records from Shetland.
Global distribution	Known from Britain and Ireland and parts of the French Atlantic coast.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range	+1 to -10 m chart datum
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	No text entered
Substratum preferences	Bedrock, Large to very large boulders, Small boulders	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Sealoch, Estuary, Enclosed coast / Embayment, Offshore seabed, Strait / sound, Ria / Voe
Biological zone	Lower Eulittoral, Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral	Wave exposure	Exposed, Moderately Exposed, Sheltered, Very Sheltered, Extremely Sheltered, Ultra Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Strong (3-6 kn), Moderately Strong (1-3 kn), Weak (<1 kn), Very Weak (negligible)	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu), Variable (18-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
Distribution References	Berrill, 1950, Picton & Costello, 1998, JNCC, 1999, NBN, 2002
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Fission, Permanent hermaphrodite	Developmental mechanism	Lecithotrophic
Reproductive Season	June to October	Reproductive Location	Insufficient information
Reproductive frequency	Insufficient information	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	1-2 years	Age at reproductive maturity	Insufficient information
Generation time	<1 year	Fecundity	Insufficient information
Egg/propagule size	Eggs ca 0.34 mm diameter	Fertilization type	Insufficient information
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential 100-1000m Larval settlement period Insufficient information Duration of larval stage <1 day
Additional Information	Eggs are about 0.34 mm diameter. Larvae are held in the atrial cavity and have a trunk about 0.8 mm long. The free-swimming period of the larva is about 2-3 hours. Berrill (1950) suggests that brooding colonies are present in September and October but records in the Plymouth Marine Fauna suggest breeding June to September.
Reproduction References	Berrill, 1950, MBA, 1957