Vase Tunicate

Ciona intestinalis is a solitary tunicate with a cylindrical, soft, gelatinous body, up to 20 cm long. The body colour and colour at the distal end of siphons are major external characters distinguishing sister species within the species complex.^[11]

The body of Ciona is bag-like and covered by a tunic, which is a secretion of the epidermal cells. The body is attached by a permanent base located at the posterior end, while the opposite extremity has two openings, the buccal and atrial siphons. Water is drawn into the ascidian through the buccal (oral) siphon and leaves the atrium through the atrial siphon (cloacal).

Ciona intestinalis is considered to be an invasive species and grows in dense aggregations on any floating or submerged substrate, particularly artificial structures like pilings, aquaculture gear, floats and boat hulls, in the lower intertidal to sub-tidal zones. It often grows with or on other fouling organisms. It is thought to spread to new areas mainly through hull fouling. Since its larvae can live for up to 10 days, this species may also be transferred through the release of bilge or ballast water.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciona_intestinalis

Photo Credit: Vase Tunicate by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciona_intestinalis#/media/File:Cionaintestinalis.jpg, 2007. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciona_intestinalis. Licenced with CC BY-SA 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0.