Synoicum incrustatum

David Kipling I would say Synoicum incrustatum for the sand-encrusted squirt because of the single system per lob (one large opening with a ring of smaller ones around it), with some pretty red ones scattered around for visual effect. South Pembs, Wales.

Claire Goodwin Looks like it to me.

George Brown Need assistance with this tunicate please. Fairly common but only found between 10 to 35m. Area subject to strong tidal streams in very clear water. Each "colony" about 30mm in diameter and 10 to 15mm in height and coated with sand particles. Eilean nan Ron, north coast of Scotland.

David Kipling Polyclinum aurantium ? Based on there being multiple exhaling openings.

Claire Goodwin It looks like Synoicum incrustatum that we get off the Skerries - mainly because of the sand encrustation. It is very similar to P. aurantium and was omitted from Millar (see Habitas) - David Connor did a paper on it http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/25539358?uid=2&uid=4&sid=21102171253737.

David Kipling "Each lobe is a single system, occasionally two...each ... with a common cloacal opening" - from the Connor ref. The larger specimen here looks like it has five or more cloacal openings though.

David Kipling There's a photo of Polyclinum aurantium on the JNCC biotope site (photo from Keith Hiscock) that looks like a sand-encrusted squirt with multiple systems and quite like this picture of George's: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/marine/biotopes/biotope_image.aspx?biotope=JNCCMNCR00002141&cd=0002&image=IMG0001.jpg

Claire Goodwin I think these two species would benefit from some dissection and photos to clarify ID. I'm not all that familiar with P.aurantium so would be nice to get a better idea of field characteristics. Suspect Synoicum under recorded/misidentified frequently. Now George Brown will have to go back for a sample! - but Bernard Picton can probably advise.

David Kipling Sounds like a plan :) Are either species in Strangford (thinking BioBlitz)?

David Kipling George - is Eilean nan Ròn the island off the coast at Tongue?

Claire Goodwin Will have to check databases but not sure we get either. See what you mean about the openings now.

George Brown EnR is the island to the east of the entrance to the Kyle of Tongue. A beautiful, haunting island which supported many families but was eventually abandoned in 1938.

David Kipling OK you can take us there next year on the 2014 Aberdeen to Assynt Ascidian Adventure!

Becky Hitchin Definitely! I remembered today the joys of club diving - whizzing round a rock without even a proper chance to look. George Brown, I might be coming knocking on your door!

George Brown AAAA. I like the sound of that! And Becky, I like the sound of that too! In the not too distant past we used to have regular Seasearch dives. One memorable outing was at Rosehearty which terminated at the excellent coffee shop in the "Museum of Scottish Lighthouses" in Fraserburgh. A grand day out!

Bernard Picton Strangford Lough (bioblitz, David) has plenty of large Polyclinum aurantium on kelp in the narrows, very different external morphology to these ones.