Characteristics of Botryllus delicatus

Botryllus delicatus
Colony
Shape flat
Thickness (mm) 2.5-4.0
Arrangement of zooids ladder
Tunic transparent, gelatinous, extremely soft
Ampullae size (mm: L x W) 1.5 x 0.3
Formation of colony part including only vascular system sometimes
Color of pigment cells forming pattern on a colony surface orange, white, purple
Pattern by deposited pigment cells single pattern
Zooid
Length (mm) 2.5-3.0
Ground color yellow
Number of tentacles (Large),(Small),(Minute) L4, S4
Number of stigmatal rows 9-10
Second row of stigmata incomplete
Number of longitudinal vessels 3
Number of stomach plication 8-9
Pyloric caecum large
Asexual reproduction
Peribranchial budding all seasons
Number of buds in each zooid R1, L1
Vascular budding sometimes
Cycle of takeover one week
Sexual reproduction
Breeding season Jul-Dec
Arrangement of gonads (position of ovary) anterior to the testis
Testis shape & color rosette, grayish
Color of eggs yellow
Production of larvae ovoviviparous
Mature egg diameter (µm) 250
Number of mature eggs R1-2, L1-2
Brooding organ pouch-like organ formed from branchial sac
Embryo size just before hatching (µm) -
Development to larvae in one week
Release of larvae shortly before degeneration of parent zooids
Larva
Length (mm) 1.5
Length of larval trunk (µm) 400
Number of larval ampullae 8
Oozooid
Length (µm) 750
Number of tentacles L4. S4
Number of protostigmata 8-10
Number of stomach plication 5
Number of buds R1
Colony specificity
Present or absent present
Starting stage of allorejection after vascular fusion
Occurrence of subcuticular rejection no
References Okuyama & Saito, 2001a
- : not examined

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