Hi Gabrielle:
I don't have any experience with Corella parallelogramma, but I have had much
experience identifying the other two.
Ciona intestinalis larvae look very much like the one in the picture I'm
attaching (from http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v4/n4/images/nrg1042-f1.jpg
and http://www.mbl.edu/BiologicalBulletin/MMER/cirino/CirFig09.html). They are
pink and have long tails and an elongated head. Botryllus schlosseri larvae
are bigger with more spherical heads. They are often light orange, but
sometimes pinkish. You will be able to see individual Botryllus larvae
swimming fairly easily with the naked eye.
I hope that helps a little.
Aimee
Hello there
i was wondering if anyone could tell me how to identify and distinguish
between the larvae of the following tunicate species: Ciona intestinalis,
Corella parallelogramma and Botryllus schlosseri, or if anyone knows of
any paper/guide/textbook/website i might consult?
thankyou very much
Gabrielle
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