Magnificent Ascidian - Botrylloides magnicoecum

I'll start this blog with a marine creature I used to look at regularly, but had no idea what I was actually looking at! Below are two photos of a Magnificent Ascidian (Botrylloides magnicoecum) taken on the Central Coast, NSW. This species of ascidian is very common around Australia and can be found in many other parts of the world.

Magnificent Ascidian - Botrylloides magnicoecum

Magnificent Ascidian - Botrylloides magnicoecum

  

The Magnificent Ascidian is a colonial species, meaning that many individual organisms make up the large community. Individual zooids attach to the larger thumb shaped lobe which form the blue patterns. These small (1-2mm) zooids intake water filled with nutrients which nourish the colony. The large communal siphon at the top of each lobe is used to siphon the used water out of the colony.

Davey Jones' Locker

Hello good people of the scuba diving community!

I have started this blog to provide some basic, yet interesting, information on species found in our local area - Central Coast of New South Wales.

First, let me start by saying that I am by no means an expert on marine life. I am currently in my third year of studying Marine Science at the University of Newcastle. I have an affinity for all forms of life, but I particularly love marine life. So this blog is my attempt to educate local divers on local species. I'm aiming at providing enough information so you can learn something about the creatures commonly seen on local dives (and so you can pull out some cool marine facts around the dinner table).

Let me know via email, comments or in person if there is a local species that you seen often, but never know much about and I'll do my best to get some great information for you.

Keep blowing bubbles,
Dave

This is me. Posing. Stunning.
Ladies, get in line.