Pyura microcosmus

Joanne Porter And here it is again from the other side

Bernard Picton I think most likely is Pyura microcosmus. You'd really need to fix it and dissect it to be sure. http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZD2400

Joanne Porter Great, thats very helpful, thankyou

George Brown Lots of tunicates in this photo but what is the big one (about 40mm wide) in the middle? Pyura tessellata?

Wilfried Bay-Nouailhat Hi, it's too tall to be P. tesselata, and it doesn't look like that, see http://www.mer-littoral.org/32/pyura-tessellata.php I'd rather say Pyura microcosmus.

George Brown Thanks Wilfried.

Claire Goodwin Following on from Tom's picture I think these are probably Pyura microcosmus. Dense aggregations near Serpula reefs in Killary harbour. Bernard Picton, David Kipling?

Darryl Mayer There are large aggregations of these in the Serpula reefs in Loch Creran too, even appearing to grow through the reef formations. Which came first...?

Claire Goodwin Yes I've not dived on Serpula before - amazing habitat. No idea which came first though!

Darryl Mayer Anytime you're in Scotland, with your gear, I'll show you some huge reefs.

Claire Goodwin :)

David Kipling Be very useful to double-check the ID of these with bodies, since this colourway is very familiar from Pembs and so could be usefully stable as a field ID feature. Are there any of these in Strangford Lough?

Bernard Picton I'd like to check the internal anatomy, but I think that is the most likely identification.

James Lynott Are these examples of Pyura microcosmus? They were plentiful on a sheltered rock face in Loch Creran between 10-20m.