Doliolum denticulatum
Distribution:
Pacific and Atlantic Oceans; Mediterranean Sea.
Habitat:
0-100 m
Size:
to 8 mm
Diet:
Phytoplankton and other small cells.
Predators:
Heteropods and narcomedusae.
Useful Facts or Characters:
Their gonozooid (sexual generation) has 8 muscle bands and oozooid has 9 muscle bands.
Natural History:
Doliolids are barrel-shaped, filter feeders with circular muscle bands that are complete (encircle the entire body).
References:
Berner, L. (1967) Distributional atlas of Thaliacea in the California Current region. CalCOFI Atlas No. 8: 1-322.
Bone, Q. (1998) The biology of pelagic tunicates. Oxford University Press, Oxford.