Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Lambert, G.; Rius, M.; Moreira da Rocha, R.; Swalla, B.J.; Turon, X. (2026). Ascidiacea World Database. Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=103718 on 2026-04-02
accepted
Valid name (ICZN) or name considered to be taxonomically correct (ICBN)
Species
Observations on the British Tunicata with descriptions of several new species
Alder, J. (1863). Observations on the British Tunicata with descriptions of several new species. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser.3. 11: 153-173.
On the larval state of Molgula; with descriptions of several new species of simple ascidians
Hancock, A. (1870). On the larval state of Molgula; with descriptions of several new species of simple ascidians. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (4) 6: 353-368.
Zoologiae Danicae Prodromus, seu Animalium Daniae et Norvegiae Indigenarum characters, nomina, et synonyma imprimis popularium. [Prodromus of Danish Zoology, or the characters, names, and synonyms of the indigenous animals of Denmark and Norway, especially of the popular ones.]
Müller, O.F. (1776). Zoologiae Danicae Prodromus, seu Animalium Daniae et Norvegiae Indigenarum characters, nomina, et synonyma imprimis popularium. [Prodromus of Danish Zoology, or the characters, names, and synonyms of the indigenous animals of Denmark and Norway, especially of the popular ones.]. Typis Hallageriis, Havniae. 32: 1-282.
Additions to the mollusca of Northumberland and Durham
Alder, J.; Hancock, A. (1848). Additions to the mollusca of Northumberland and Durham. Trans. Tyneside Field Club. 1: 195-207.
Einige Bemerkungen uber die Vegetation und die fauna von Helgoland
Hoffman, F. (1829). Einige Bemerkungen uber die Vegetation und die fauna von Helgoland. Sber. Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berl. 1: 228-260.
Histoire naturelle des principales productions de l'Europe Méridionale et particulièrement de celles des environs de Nice et des Alpes Maritimes. [Natural history of the main productions of Southern Europe and particularly those of the area around Nice and the Maritime Alps.
Risso, A. (1826 - 1827). Histoire naturelle des principales productions de l'Europe Méridionale et particulièrement de celles des environs de Nice et des Alpes Maritimes. [Natural history of the main productions of Southern Europe and particularly those of the area around Nice and the Maritime Alps. In: Levrault, F.G. (ed.). vol. 3. Mammifères. Oiseaux. Poissons / vol. 4. Mollusques. Annélides / vol. 5. Crustacés. Myriapodes, scorpionides, arachnides et acarides. Insectes. Vers intestinaux. Radiaires. Zoophytes]. 400 pp., 13 pls. [volumes 1-5.
A history of the molluscous animals of the counties of Aberdeen, Kincardine and Banff, to which is appended an account of the cirripedal animals of the same district
MacGillivray, W. (1843). A history of the molluscous animals of the counties of Aberdeen, Kincardine and Banff, to which is appended an account of the cirripedal animals of the same district. Cunningham & Mortimer, London. xxiv + 372 pp.
Notes on the British Tunicata with descriptions of new species
Herdman, W. A. (1881). Notes on the British Tunicata with descriptions of new species. Proc. Linn. Soc. London. 15: 274-290.
Kiaer, J. (1893). Oversigt over Norges Ascidiae Simplices. Forh. Vid. Selsk. Christian. 9: 1-105.
National Exotic Marine and Estuarine Species Information System (NEMESIS)
Fofonoff, P.W.; Ruiz, G.M.; Steves, B.; Carlton, J.T. (2014-2024). National Exotic Marine and Estuarine Species Information System (NEMESIS).
Monitoring van de effecten van de verruiming 48'/43': MOVE eindrapport 2006 (Rapport 10)
van Eck, G. Th. M.; Holzhauer, H. (2007). Monitoring van de effecten van de verruiming 48'/43': MOVE eindrapport 2006 (Rapport 10). Rapport RIKZ = Report RIKZ, 2007.003. RIKZ: Middelburg. 64 pp.
Monniot, C. (2001). Ascidiacea & Sorberacea. In: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels. 50: pp. 352-355.
Faune et flore du littoral du Nord, du Pas-de-Calais et de la Belgique: inventaire. [Coastal fauna and flora of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Belgium: inventory]
Muller, Y. (2004). Faune et flore du littoral du Nord, du Pas-de-Calais et de la Belgique: inventaire. [Coastal fauna and flora of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Belgium: inventory]. Commission Régionale de Biologie Région Nord Pas-de-Calais: France. 307 pp.
The Australian Ascidiacea part 1, Phlebobranchia and Stolidobranchia
Kott, P. (1985). The Australian Ascidiacea part 1, Phlebobranchia and Stolidobranchia. Mem Qd Mus. 23: 1-440.
Phylum Tunicata: sea squirts, salps, appendicularians, New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1
Kott, P.; Bradford-Grieve, J.; Esnal, G.; Murdoch, R.C. (2009). Phylum Tunicata: sea squirts, salps, appendicularians, in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. pp. 409-430.
Atlas of Marine Invasive Species in the NOWPAP Region
Lutaenko, K.A.; Furota, T.; Nakayama; S.; Shin, K.; Xu, J. (2013). Atlas of Marine Invasive Species in the NOWPAP Region. Beijing: NOWPAP DINRAC (Northwest Pacific Action Plan, Data and Information Network Regional Center). 189 pp.
Marine biofouling on recreational boats on swing moorings and berths
Brine, O.; Hunt, L.; Costello, M. J. (2013). Marine biofouling on recreational boats on swing moorings and berths. Management of Biological Invasions. 4(4): 327-341.
Molecular and Morphological Discrimination Between an Invasive Ascidian, Ascidiella aspersa , and Its Congener A. scabra (Urochordata: Ascidiacea)
Nishikawa, T.; Oohara, I.; Saitoh, K.; Shigenobu, Y.; Hasegawa, N.; Kanamori, M.; Baba, K.; Turon, X.; Bishop, J. D. D. (2014). Molecular and Morphological Discrimination Between an Invasive Ascidian, Ascidiella aspersa , and Its Congener A. scabra (Urochordata: Ascidiacea). Zoological Science. 31(3): 180-185.
The Earliest Japanese records of the invasive European ascidian Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) (Urochordata: Ascidiidae) from Mutsu and Ago Bays, with a brief discussion of its invasion processes
Nishikawa, T.; Yasuda, A.; Murata, Y.; Otani, M. (2019). The Earliest Japanese records of the invasive European ascidian Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) (Urochordata: Ascidiidae) from Mutsu and Ago Bays, with a brief discussion of its invasion processes. Sessile Organisms. 36(1): 1-6.
First record of the ascidian Ascidiella aspersa (Mϋller, 1776) in southern California
Nydam, M.; Nichols, C.; Lambert, G. (2022). First record of the ascidian Ascidiella aspersa (Mϋller, 1776) in southern California. BioInvasions Records. 11(2): 416-427.
The marine fauna of the British Isles and North-West Europe: 1. Introduction and protozoans to arthropods.
Hayward, P.J. & J.S. Ryland (Eds.). (1990). The marine fauna of the British Isles and North-West Europe: 1. Introduction and protozoans to arthropods. Clarendon Press: Oxford, UK. 627 pp.
UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms (URMO)
van der Land, J. (ed). (2008). UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms (URMO).
Texel (NL), 01.06.2007 (C.J.M. Philippart) Characteristics used for id: - crinkled tunic - solitary individuals - brown sprinkled - two vents (a big one and a smaller one) - between the vents – white spotted line References: HAYWARD & RYLAND, 1998; BULLARD & WHITLACH, 2004 Checked by A. Gittenberger (Naturalis, Leiden, NL)
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - European waters (ERMS scope)
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - North West Atlantic
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - North Sea
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - British Isles
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Grevelingen
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - West Coast of Norway
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Oostduinkerke
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Wimereux
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Saldanha Bay
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - North East Atlantic
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Joes Point
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Gulf of Maine
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Spuikom
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Greek Exclusive Economic Zone
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Irish Exclusive economic Zone
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Swedish Exclusive Economic Zone
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Great Australian Bight
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - North Atlantic
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Adriatic Sea
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Alboran Sea
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Laccadive Sea
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Mediterranean Sea - Western Basin
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Argentinean part of the South Atlantic Ocean
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Australian Exclusive Economic Zone
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - United States part of the North Atlantic Ocean
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - New Zealand part of the South Pacific Ocean
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Australian part of the Great Australian Bight
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Ireland
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - United Kingdom part of the English Channel
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - South African part of the Indian Ocean
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Bay of Bengal
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Australian part of the Bass Strait
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Table Bay
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Knysna
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Canadian part of the North Atlantic Ocean
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - South African part of the South Atlantic Ocean
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Spanish part of the Balearic Sea
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Greek part of the Aegean Sea
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Angolan part of the South Atlantic Ocean
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - Tunisian Exclusive Economic Zone
Distribution for Ascidiella aspersa (Müller, 1776) - United States part of the North Pacific Ocean
Alien
Species introduced by man into places out of their natural range of distribution
Native
Species that is native to the country or sea area
Origin unknown
Species whose origins cannot be verified OR a species whose origin has not been specified in the source information
Uncertain
Species whose invasiveness is uncertain
Not specified
A species whose 'invasiveness' has not been specified in its introduced range. The species is known to be present and has been reported but there is no comment on its invasiveness
Invasive
Species that are known to be invasive- those species in whose cases evidence of impact has been recorded or which is spreading aggressively
Not invasive
Species that has not demonstrated any invasive traits in its introduced range
Of concern
Species that are demonstrating aggressive spread and there is concern about its spread OR species where some concern has been recorded- this may be due to known records of its invasiveness and impacts in other areas of their known introduced range
Reported
Species that are 'reported' to be present but with no further information
Established
Species that have become established in their introduced range
Established and expanding
Species that have become established in their introduced range and are known to be increasing in abundance and expanding their range
Recorded in error
Species that have reported or recorded in error
Taxon Description Functional group for Taxon denoted by name 1839
Taxon Description Body size for Taxon denoted by name 103718
Taxon Description AMBI ecological group for Taxon denoted by name 103718
Taxon Description Feeding method for Taxon denoted by name 103435
Taxon Description Body size (qualitative) for Taxon denoted by name 1839
Taxon Description Sociability for Taxon denoted by name 103484
Taxon Description Nomenclature code for Taxon denoted by name 2
Specification Context: Life stage adult
Specification Context: Life stage larva
Specification Context: Unit cm
Specification Context: Type maximum
Specification Context: Dimension length
Specification Context: Unit mm
Specification Context: Type minimum
Specification Context: Locality (MRGID) 1920
Specification Context: Type unknown