Just a little Squirt

The worlds oceans are filled with many divers and interesting creatures. This strange looking animal goes my many names Shiny Orange Sea Squirt, Broad-base tunicate, Broad-base Sea Squirt, or Blood Drop Sea Squirt but scientifically by only one Cnemidocarpa finmarkiensis.

The shiny orange sea squirt is a solitary tunicate with a flattened, opaque tunic. This tunic is a smooth, pearly orange-red or pinkish-red colour. It grows to 7.5 cm tall and 5 cm wide, though it is usually smaller. Its siphons are short, and spaced apart when its relaxed, but the siphons can be retracted, at which point they appear as small crosses.

This tunicate grows on rocks, docks, and other hard substrates from low intertidal depths to 50 m. Its eastern Pacific range extends from Alaska to Point Conception in California, though it is most common north of Oregon. It is also found along northwestern Pacific coastlines and in Arctic waters.

Similar species to this tunicate is the Pacific Sea Peach which has similar colouration but is taller and thinner. These unique creatures definitely add a pop of colour to the reefs and rocks here in the Pacific Northwest and photographing them in the right light can produce some striking images.

Pacific Sea Peach

Thanks for reading and happy photo hunting everyone.

Scott

For more images and stories - http://www.scottstevensonphotography.ca/