page_title: Didemnum
section_title: Species
hierarchical_section_title: Didemnum / Species
caption_attribution_description: English: Image DB_STP_DSCN1880. Tunicate colonies of Didemnum overgrowing the fronds of dark green algae. Sandwich tide pool (41 deg 46.42 min N lat, 70 deg 29.30 min W lon). Water depth, intertidal range to 11 feet (3.4 m). Collected at low tide. December 4, 2003. Collectors: Mary Carman and Page Valentine. Photo credit: Dann Blackwood, U.S. Geological Survey.
context_page_description: Didemnum is a genus of colonial tunicates in the family Didemnidae. It is the most speciose genus in the didemnid family. 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. In early 2006, Didemnum vexillum was found covering a 230 km² area of cobble habitat in Georges Bank off the coast of New England, and is classified as an invasive species of greatest concern in coastal areas throughout Europe, New Zealand, and North America. Didemnum sp. invasions have also been recorded in Canada, the Mediterranean, and the Netherlands.
  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.
context_section_description: Didemnum albidum (Verrill, 1871)
  Didemnum amethysteum (Van Name, 1902)
  Didemnum asperum (Milne-Edwards, 1841)
  Didemnum biglans (Sluiter, 1906)
  Didemnum candidum (Savigny, 1816)
  Didemnum carnulentum (Ritter and Forsyth, 1917)
  Didemnum chilense (Arnbaeck, 1929)
  Didemnum coriaceum (Von Drasche, 1883)
  Didemnum fulgens (Milne-Edwards, 1841)
  Didemnum galacteum (Lotufo and Dias, 2007
  Didemnum gelatinosum
  Didemnum helgolandicum
  Didemnum lahillei (Hartmeyer, 1909)
  Didemnum maculosum (Milne-Edwards, 1841)
  Didemnum molle (Herdmann, 1886)
  Didemnum perlucidem (Monniot, 1983)
  Didemnum proliferum (Kott, 1981)
  Didemnum santaelenae (Van Name, 1945)
  Didemnum studeri (Hartmeyer, 1911)
  Didemnum tenue (Herdmann, 1886)
  Didemnum vanderhorsti (Van Name, 1924)
  Didemnum vexillum (Kott, 2002)
caption: Tunicate colonies of Didemnum sp. overgrowing the fronds of dark green algae. These colonies can quickly overgrow most surfaces and other organisms.
exif: {}