Characteristics of Botryllus puniceus

Botryllus puniceus
Colony
Shape flat
Thickness (mm) 0.8-2.2
Arrangement of zooids ladder
Tunic transparent, gelatinous, soft,
Ampullae size (mm: L x W) 0.4-1.2 x 0.1-0.2
Formation of colony part including only vascular system occasionally
Color of pigment cells forming pattern on a colony surface no
Pattern by deposited pigment cells single pattern
Zooid
Length (mm) 2.8-3.8
Ground color pink
Number of tentacles (Large),(Small),(Minute) L4, S4
Number of stigmatal rows 8-11
Second row of stigmata incomplete
Number of longitudinal vessels 3
Number of stomach plication 9-10
Pyloric caecum large
Asexual reproduction
Peribranchial budding all seasons
Number of buds in each zooid R1-2, L1
Vascular budding occasionally
Cycle of takeover one week
Sexual reproduction
Breeding season Apr-Jun
Arrangement of gonads (position of ovary) anterior to the testis
Testis shape & color rosette, milky-white
Color of eggs orange
Production of larvae ovoviviparous
Mature egg diameter (µm) 240
Number of mature eggs R1-5, L1-5
Brooding organ no brooding organ
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) 350
Number of larval ampullae 8
Oozooid
Length (µm) 500
Number of tentacles L4
Number of protostigmata 4
Number of stomach plication 4-5
Number of buds R1
Colony specificity
Present or absent present
Starting stage of allorejection after vascular fusion
Occurrence of subcuticular rejection no
References Saito & Nagasawa, 2003
- : not examined

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