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Botrylloides violaceous Oka, 1927
Orange Sheath Tunicate; Violet Tunicate
Family: Styelidae
 

Photograph

© Liz Watkinson     (Photo ID #20702)

Map

E-Fauna BC Static Map

Distribution of Botrylloides violaceous in British Columbia in British Columbia

Introduction


The Violet Tunicate is an invasive species of colonial tunicate (sea squirt) that is native to Asia (Japan, China) and was introduced to British Columbia where it was reported from French Creek on Vancouver Island in 1992 and later from Maple Bay on (in 2000) (Cohen 2011). It is also known from the Strait of Georgia, Johnson Strait, the southwest coast of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii. (Royal BC Musuem 2011).

The Invasive Species Compendium (2011) provides the following information on this species: "It can tolerate a wide range of environmental factors including temperature, salinity and nutrients (Carman et al., 2007; Dijkstra et al., 2008). B. violaceus overgrows shellfish (e.g. mussels) and other sessile invertebrate species".

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Botrylloides aurantium Oka, 1927
Botrylloides carnosum Oka, 1927
Botrylloides lateritium Beniaminson, 1975
Botrylloides violaceum Oka, 1927

Additional Range and Status Information Links

Ocean Biogeographic Information System Distribution Map

General References

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