About Pyura stolonifera (Heller, 1878)
Pyura stolonifera is a very large solitary ascidian. It can grow to well over 15 centimeters in height. This species has a thick pale outer covering called a tunic, which is overlaid by a wrinkled brown layer. Its large inhalant and exhalant siphons have slightly scalloped edges, and are usually positioned close to each other. The outer surface of Pyura stolonifera is typically thickly covered with other encrusting organisms. This species occurs in coastal cool-temperate and warm-temperate marine bioregions of southern Africa. Its range extends from Namibia on the west coast to south-eastern South Africa, and it is not found in the region's subtropical and tropical bioregions. It lives from the intertidal zone down to at least 10 meters underwater.
