Cnemidocarpa finmarkiensis (Kiaer 1893)

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: Other tunicates of similar shape are not usually pinkish-red, or have a wrinkled tunic. The sea peach, Halocynthia aurantia, is a similar smooth, shiny pinkish color but it has broader siphons of unequal size and is taller than it is wide. Of other common local smooth, orange tunicates, Metandrocarpa taylori is a social ascidian, with multiple individuals living near each other and connected by narrow stolons or sheets of tunic. Distaplia occidentalis is a compound ascidian with many individuals within the same tunic.

Hard substrates in well-circulated waters. Sometimes found on floats. Sometimes lives in holes.

Geographical Range: Alaska to Point Conception, CA; most common from Washington north. Also northwestern Pacific, circumboreal in the Arctic

This solitary, unstalked tunicate has a smooth, shiny, pinkish-red opaque tunic which often looks pearly. The shape is often approximately heispherical. Tunic is white when the animal is very small. Siphons are far apart and prominent in a relaxed animal. When fully retracted the siphons look like small crosses. Usually less than 3 cm across base though can get up to 5 cm, and up to 2.5 cm high.

Biology/Natural History: This species is hermaphroditic. Fertilization is external, during the summer. The tunic is thin but tough, with 12.4% organic content. Just over half the organic matter in the tunic is tunicin; the rest is protein. Vanadium content of the body is low Predators include the seastar Orthasterias koehleri. The copepod Pygodelphys aquilonarius may live symbiotically in the branchial chamber and many invertebrates may live around the base.

Depth Range: Very low intertidal to at least 50 m