Didemnum

{{Short description|Genus of sea squirts}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| image = Sea Squirts Didemnum molle.jpg

| image_caption = Didemnum molle

| taxon = Didemnum

| authority = Savigny, 1816

| synonyms = {{hidden begin|title = List}}

  • Didemnium Savgny, 1816
  • Didemnoides Drasche, 1883
  • Diplosomoides Herdman, 1886
  • Hypurgon Sollas, 1903
  • Leptoclinum Milne Edwards, 1842
  • Sarcodidemnoides Oka & Willey, 1892
  • Tetradidemnum Della Valle, 1881

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Didemnum is a genus of colonial tunicates in the family Didemnidae. It is the most speciose genus in the didemnid family.{{Cite journal|author1=Moreno, T. |author2= Rocha, R.|date=June 2008|title=Phylogeny of the Aplousobranchia (Tunicata: Ascidiacea)|journal=Revista Brasileira de Zoologia

|volume=25|issue= 2|pages=269–298 |doi=10.1590/S0101-81752008000200016|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal|last=Kott|first=Patricia|date=15 Aug 2001|title=The AUSTRALIAN ASC1DIACEA PART 4, APLOUSOBRANCHIA (3), DIDEMNIDAE|journal=Memoirs of the Queensland Museum|volume=47}} Species in this genus often have small calcareous spicules embedded in the tunic and form irregular or lobed colonies. Some Didemnum species, including Didemnum vexillum and Didemnum perlucidem are considered invasive species.{{cite web |title=Marine Nuisance Species |publisher=Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Center |date=17 February 2016 |url=https://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/project-pages/stellwagen/didemnum/index.htm }} In early 2006, Didemnum vexillum was found covering a 230 km2 area of cobble habitat in Georges Bank off the coast of New England,{{Cite journal|last=Valentine|first=Page C.|last2=Carman|first2=Mary R.|last3=Blackwood|first3=Dann S.|last4=Heffron|first4=Erin J.|title=Ecological observations on the colonial ascidian Didemnum sp. in a New England tide pool habitat|journal=Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology|volume=342|issue=1|pages=109–121|doi=10.1016/j.jembe.2006.10.021|year=2007}} and is classified as an invasive species of greatest concern in coastal areas throughout Europe,{{Cite news|title=Project report: Assessment of the impacts of Didemnum vexillum and options for the management of the species in England|author1=Ian Laing|author2= James Bussell|author3= Kate Somerwill}} New Zealand, and North America. Didemnum sp. invasions have also been recorded in Canada, the Mediterranean, and the Netherlands."Invasion der Pfankuchen" Der Spiegel, 1/2006, p. 102

Species in this genus can be found in tropical or temperate regions. Some tropical species such as Didemnum molle have photosynthetic algae in their tunics.{{Cite book|title=Invertebrate Zoology: A Functional Evolutionary Approach |last=Ruppert | first = Edward E. |author2=Richard S. Fox |author3=Robert D. Barnes |isbn=8131501043|edition=7th |location=Delhi, India|oclc=970002268|year = 2004}}

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus Didemnum:{{Cite web |title=WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Didemnum Savigny, 1816 |url=https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=103456 |access-date=2022-08-17 |website=www.marinespecies.org}}

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Image:Didemnum overgrowing dark green algae.jpg

References

{{Reflist}}

  • (USGS) National Geologic Studies of Benthic Habitats, Northeastern United States has a Marine Nuisance Species page dedicated to this genus

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Category:Didemnidae

Category:Tunicate genera

Category:Taxa named by Marie Jules César Savigny

Category:Long stubs with short prose

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