| Cyclosalpa
bakeri Ritter, 1905 Phylum Chordata / Subphylum Urochordata / Class Thaliacea / Order Salpida / Family Salpidae |
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This species is one of the more commonly encountered pelagic
tunicates of the West Coast. Compared to some of the other salps you may observe, C.
bakeri has a relatively thin, flabby test. It is a slow swimmer with delicate
tissue that is easily damaged. Solitary individuals (top 2 photos) are
pear-shaped (posterior end smaller) with a length between 5 and 15 cm, and 7 body
muscles. Distinct white patches lie between each muscle band. The stolon (seen
in the solitary individual in the second photo) emerges near muscle band 2. Aggregates
(bottom
photo) also have thin flabby tests, and form distinctive radial whorls up to 20 cm
diameter with about 12 zooids. Each zooid has a pair of posterior end
projections. This species tends to rise to the surface at night while spending
daylight hours in deeper water. Growth rates can be impressive (body size increases
of 25% per day in aggregates), and individuals can consume at least half the body mass in
24 hours. C. bakeri is wide ranging in tropical and temperate waters, and
may be found as far north as the Gulf of Alaska.
All photographs © David Wrobel and may not be used or copied without permission!