Benoît Segerer
Info
Rhopalaea crassa (Herdman, 1880)
There is a lot of confusion and mislabeled photos on the internet regarding Rhopalaea crassa. Rhopalaea crassa is a species of sea squirt from the Diazonidae family. Despite popular online sources, this species is yellow, yellowish-gray, or rarely white. The specimens of Rhopalaea crassa examined for the description were found on the spicules of the sponge Pheronema hemisphaericum (Gray, 1873), which at that time was still listed under its name Labaria hemisphaerica Gray, 1873 (now a synonym).
From the original description: Shape irregular, roughly triangular, connected to a cluster of sponge needles by an elongated base. Front end more or less rounded; sides irregular. Both openings are located near or at the front end. Surface rather irregular. Color yellowish-gray. Length 2 cm; width 3.5 cm. Mantle strongly developed.
A cobalt blue species that is often mistakenly referred to as “Rhopalaea crassa” is Rhopalaea fusca.
Another undescribed Rhopalaea species, Rhopalaea sp.01, with neon-colored networks, is also often mistakenly given this name.
Synonymised names
Ciona indica Sluiter, 1904 · unaccepted (original combination)
Ecteinascidia crassa Herdman, 1880 · unaccepted (original combination)
Ecteinascidia fusca Herdman, 1880 · unaccepted (original combination)
Ecteinascidia solida Herdman, 1906 · unaccepted (original combination)
Rhopalaea indica (Sluiter, 1904) · unaccepted (new combination)
Rhopalaea mutuensis Oka, 1927 · unaccepted (original combination)
Rhopalopsis crassa (Herdman, 1880) · unaccepted (new combination)
There is a lot of confusion and mislabeled photos on the internet regarding Rhopalaea crassa. Rhopalaea crassa is a species of sea squirt from the Diazonidae family. Despite popular online sources, this species is yellow, yellowish-gray, or rarely white. The specimens of Rhopalaea crassa examined for the description were found on the spicules of the sponge Pheronema hemisphaericum (Gray, 1873), which at that time was still listed under its name Labaria hemisphaerica Gray, 1873 (now a synonym).
From the original description: Shape irregular, roughly triangular, connected to a cluster of sponge needles by an elongated base. Front end more or less rounded; sides irregular. Both openings are located near or at the front end. Surface rather irregular. Color yellowish-gray. Length 2 cm; width 3.5 cm. Mantle strongly developed.
A cobalt blue species that is often mistakenly referred to as “Rhopalaea crassa” is Rhopalaea fusca.
Another undescribed Rhopalaea species, Rhopalaea sp.01, with neon-colored networks, is also often mistakenly given this name.
Synonymised names
Ciona indica Sluiter, 1904 · unaccepted (original combination)
Ecteinascidia crassa Herdman, 1880 · unaccepted (original combination)
Ecteinascidia fusca Herdman, 1880 · unaccepted (original combination)
Ecteinascidia solida Herdman, 1906 · unaccepted (original combination)
Rhopalaea indica (Sluiter, 1904) · unaccepted (new combination)
Rhopalaea mutuensis Oka, 1927 · unaccepted (original combination)
Rhopalopsis crassa (Herdman, 1880) · unaccepted (new combination)
