SEARCH THE SITE

HOME WHAT'S ON OUR SCIENCE CULTURES EDUCATION BLOG ABOUT US

ANIMAL SPECIES: Related Sea Tulip sections Sea squirts Growing from the rocks on a long stalk, the Sea Tulip is commonly and sea tulips encountered by divers around Sydney. Wildlife of Sydney

open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com Sea Tulips, spinifera Photographer: Kevin Deacon © Kevin Deacon

Standard Common Name Sea Tulip

Identification The Sea Tulip is covered in lumps and bumps, giving it a kind of warty appearance. It comes in a variety of colours such as orange, purple, yellow or pink. These bright colours aren't the work of the Sea Tulip but are from an encrusting , Halisarca australiensis, which covers its surface.

Size range 32 cm

Habitat The Sea Tulip is found in coastal waters to a depth of 80 m.

Feeding and Diet The Sea Tulip is sessile (unable to move around) and so waits for the currents to bring food to it. Like all sea squirts, the Sea Tulip is a filter open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com feeder, pumping water in and out of its siphons and extracting the plankton.

Other behaviours and adaptations Many contain compounds to deter predators. In the relationship between the Sea Tulip and the encrusting sponge, the Sea Tulip gains protection from predators by using the sponge's defence, and the sponge benefits by having a surface on which to grow.

Classification Species: spinifera Genus: Pyura Family: Suborder: Class: Subphylum: Tunicata Phylum: Chordata Kingdom: Animalia

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Last Updated: 5 January 2010 Tags sea tulips, sea squirts, , ascidians, invertebrates, identification, wildlife of sydney,

open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com 48 10 0 0 3

1 Comment Australian Museum

 Recommend ⤤ Share

Join the discussion…

hhhhhhhnhhhhhhgfdxvbttdbdybddb • 4 months ago good job cuz △ ▽ • Reply • Share ›

✉ Subscribe d Add Disqus to your site Privacy

Australian Museum AM STORE MEDIA CENTRE 1 William Street CONTACT US MEMBERSHIP Sydney NSW 2010 Australia OPENING HOURS VOLUNTEERING (02) 93206000 ADMISSION FOUNDATION GETTING HERE CAREERS

Site map / Privacy / Copyright / Accessibility / Copyright © Australian Museum 2016 / open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com