About Herdmania momus (Savigny, 1816)
Herdmania momus is a solitary ascidian, and is one of the most frequently encountered ascidian species. It is often called just a sea squirt, but this name is ambiguous because it can refer to any species in the sub-phylum Tunicata. This solitary ascidian is sometimes known as the red-throated ascidian, because its two siphons have a vivid red color. However, most encountered solitary ascidians are heavily covered in algae, so their characteristic coloration is often not visible. Red coloration may also not be visible when this species is found at depth, since lower light frequencies are absorbed by the layers of water above the depth. Like all ascidians, H. momus is a sessile filter feeder. It is most commonly found attached to rocks, at depths between 3 metres (10 ft) and 50 metres (160 ft).
