Metandrocarpa taylori Huntsman 1912

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: Metandrocarpa dura has much more obvious connections between individuals and generally live in more massive aggregations. They usually live on kelp but may also be found on rocks. Cnemidocarpa finmarkiensis is solitary and has a smooth, shiny tunic. Distaplia occidentalis is a true colonial form with many individuals within the same tunic.

Biology/Natural History: This species routinely reproduces asexually. Runners extend from the base of adults, then grow up into a new individual. Young colonies have widely spaced individuals but in older colonies the individuals are often more tightly packed together. During budding of new individuals, the entire individual is formed from ectodermal tissue instead of from endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm as occurs in the larva. Many of these connections later break. In Washington both asexual and sexual reproduction occur year-round but probably most commonly in the spring and summer. The tadpole larvae are brooded in the atrial cavity, then released in the morning. They settle and metamorphose into adults after swimming for 2-48 hours, and are ready to feed within about 11 days.

Sides and undersurfaces of rocks in areas of strong current.. They may be especially common on granite substrates.

Geographical Range: Southeast Alaska to San Diego, CA

Depth Range: Intertidal or subtidal to about 20 m

These small tunicates are social but not colonial. The individuals are about as tall as wide, an opaque orange, orange-red, red, brick red, or yellowish or rarely greenish and have a wide attachment to the substrate. The siphons are usually fairly close together and more darkly or strongly colored than the rest of the individual. Individuals are joined at least temporarily to one another by small stolons or thin extensions of the tunic; the connections may not be obvious without close observation. Individuals are often nearly hemispherical or slightly oblong. Diameter to nearly 7 mm. Colonies can reach up to 20 cm or so in diameter.