SEARCH THE SITE HOME WHAT'S ON OUR SCIENCE CULTURES EDUCATION ANIMALS 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, Pyura 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 sponge, 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 sponges 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: Pyuridae Suborder: Stolidobranchia Class: Ascidiacea Subphylum: Tunicata Phylum: Chordata Kingdom: Animalia WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? Last Updated: 5 January 2010 Tags sea tulips, sea squirts, tunicates, 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.