Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Lambert, G.; Rius, M.; Moreira da Rocha, R.; Swalla, B.J.; Turon, X. (2026). Ascidiacea World Database. Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=103732 on 2026-02-06
accepted
Valid name (ICZN) or name considered to be taxonomically correct (ICBN)
Species
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.
Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Ed. 12. 1., Regnum Animale. 1 & 2. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature: according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places. Ed. 12. 1., Animal Kingdom. 1 & 2]
Linnaeus, C. (1767). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Ed. 12. 1., Regnum Animale. 1 & 2. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature: according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places. Ed. 12. 1., Animal Kingdom. 1 & 2]. Holmiae [Stockholm], Laurentii Salvii. pp. 1-532 [1766] pp. 533-1327 [1767].
On the embryology of Ascidia and the characteristis of new species from the shores of Massachusetts
Agassiz, L. (1850). On the embryology of Ascidia and the characteristis of new species from the shores of Massachusetts. Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci. 2: 157-159.
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.
Several new ascidians from the coast of the United States
Stimpson, W. (1852). Several new ascidians from the coast of the United States. Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. 4: 228-232.
Søe-Pungen, (Tethyum Sociabile,) fuldstændig beskreven
Gunnerus, J.E. (1765). Søe-Pungen, (Tethyum Sociabile,) fuldstændig beskreven. Skr. Selsk. Trondhjem. 3: 81-102.
Tavole per servire alla classificazione e conoscenza degli animali
Renier, S.A. (1807). Tavole per servire alla classificazione e conoscenza degli animali, [1] + pl. I-VIII. Note: work placed on the Official Index of Rejected and Invalid Works in Zoological Nomenclature by ICZN Opinion 427 (1956). Padova (Tipografia del Seminario)
British Zoology. A new edition in four volumes. vol IV. Class V. Crustacea. Class VI. Vermes
Pennant, Thomas. (1812). British Zoology. A new edition in four volumes. vol IV. Class V. Crustacea. Class VI. Vermes. Wilkie & Robinson. London. xvi+379 pp. 95 pls.
Quoy, J. R. C.; Gaimard, J. P. (1832-1835). Voyage de la corvette l'Astrolabe: exécuté par ordre du roi, pendant les années 1826-1827-1828-1829, sous le commandement de M. J. Dumont d'Urville. Zoologie. 1: i-l, 1-264; 2(1): 1-321 [1832]; 2(2): 321-686 [1833]; 3(1): 1-366 [1834]; 3(2): 367-954 [1835]; 4 [1833]; Atlas (Mollusques): pls 1-93 [1833] ...etc. In: Dumont d'Urville, J.; 1834, Voyage de Découvertes de l'Astrolabe. Paris, J. Tastu, Éditeur-Imprimeur.
Reise nach Norwegen mit Bemerkungen aus der Naturhistorie und Oekonomie. [Journey to Norway with Remarks on Natural History and Economics.]
Fabricius, J. C. (1779). Reise nach Norwegen mit Bemerkungen aus der Naturhistorie und Oekonomie. [Journey to Norway with Remarks on Natural History and Economics.]. Hamburg. Carl Ernst Bohn. 388 pp.
Encyclopédie méthodique ou par ordre de matières, par une Societe de gens de Lettres, de Savans et D'Artistes. [Methodical encyclopedia or by order of subjects, by a Society of Men of Letters, Scholars and Artists.]
Bruguière, J.G. (1789-1792). Encyclopédie méthodique ou par ordre de matières, par une Societe de gens de Lettres, de Savans et D'Artistes. [Methodical encyclopedia or by order of subjects, by a Society of Men of Letters, Scholars and Artists.]. Histoire naturelle des Vers, Paris: Pancoucke. volume 1: i-xviii, 1-344 [Livraison 32, June 1789]; 345-757 [Livraison 48, 13 Feb. 1792] [Dates after Evenhuis, 2003, Zootaxa, 166: 37; Zootaxa, 207, some modified by Evenhuis & Petit 2003 Zootaxa 207:1-4].
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).
Epibenthic community development on an experimental pulverised ful ash (PFA) artifical reef
Lam KKY. (2003). Epibenthic community development on an experimental pulverised ful ash (PFA) artifical reef. In: Morton B, editor. Asian Marine Biology 18.Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong. pp 71-90.
Bio-environmental research groups; Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries research (ILVO), Belgium; (2016): Epibenthos and demersal fish monitoring in function of aggregate extraction in the Belgian part of the North Sea.
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.
Guide to identification of marine and estuarine invertebrates: Cape Hatteras to the Bay of Fundy
Gosner, K. L. (1971). Guide to identification of marine and estuarine invertebrates: Cape Hatteras to the Bay of Fundy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., London. 693 pp. [pdf copepod and branchiuran :445-455].
A checklist of marine fauna and flora of the Bay of Fundy
Linkletter, L. E. (1977). A checklist of marine fauna and flora of the Bay of Fundy. Huntsman Marine Laboratory, St. Andrews, N.B. 68: p.
Field guide to North American seashore creatures
Meinkoth, N. A. (1981). Field guide to North American seashore creatures. The Audubon Society. 1-799.
Marine and coastal systems of the Quoddy Region, New Brunswick
Thomas, M. L. H. (1983). Marine and coastal systems of the Quoddy Region, New Brunswick. Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 64:1-306.
Further descriptions of South African ascidians
Millar, R. H. (1962). Further descriptions of South African ascidians. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 46(7): 113-221.
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.
Van Name, W. G. (1945). The North and South American ascidians. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 84: 1-476.
A Field Guide to the Atlantic Seashore. Invertebrates and Seaweeds of the Atlantic Coast from the Bay of Fundy to Cape Hatteras.
Gosner, K.L. (1979). A Field Guide to the Atlantic Seashore. Invertebrates and Seaweeds of the Atlantic Coast from the Bay of Fundy to Cape Hatteras. Wiley-Interscience, Boston. 329pp., figs. 1-72, pls. 1-64. [pdf copepods only].
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.
Ascídias (Tunicata, Ascidiacea) introduzidas no Arquipélago de Alcatrazes, São Paulo
Rocha, R. M.; Bonnet, N. Y. K. (2009). Ascídias (Tunicata, Ascidiacea) introduzidas no Arquipélago de Alcatrazes, São Paulo. Iheringia, Sér. Zool. 99(1):27-35.
[Checklist of marine biota of China seas]
Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). [Checklist of marine biota of China seas]. China Science Press. 1267 pp.
Cobscook Bay inventory: a historical checklist of marine invertebrates spanning 162 years
Trott, T. J. (2004). Cobscook Bay inventory: a historical checklist of marine invertebrates spanning 162 years. Northeastern Naturalist. 11, 261-324.
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.
Morphological evidence that the molecularly determined Ciona intestinalis type A and type B are different species: Ciona robusta and Ciona intestinalis
Brunetti, R.; Gissi, C.; Pennati, R.; Caicci, F.; Gasparini, F.; Manni, L. (2015). Morphological evidence that the molecularly determined Ciona intestinalis type A and type B are different species: Ciona robusta and Ciona intestinalis. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 53(3): 186-193.
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.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms (URMO)
van der Land, J. (ed). (2008). UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms (URMO).
Secondary contacts and genetic admixture shape colonization by an amphiatlantic epibenthic invertebrate
Hudson, J.; Johannesson, K.; McQuaid, C. D.; Rius, M. (2019). Secondary contacts and genetic admixture shape colonization by an amphiatlantic epibenthic invertebrate. Evolutionary Applications. 13(3): 600-612.
Ciona intestinalis, Tricellaria inopinata
Ciona intestinalis adulte Date: Feb 2007
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - European waters (ERMS scope)
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - British Isles
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Grevelingen
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Zeeland
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - South Africa (country)
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Wimereux
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Saldanha Bay
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Deer Island
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Cobscook Bay
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Gulf of Maine
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Sao Paulo
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Greek Exclusive Economic Zone
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - USA
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Atlantic Ocean
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Irish Exclusive economic Zone
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Canadian Exclusive Economic Zone [Arctic part]
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Swedish Exclusive Economic Zone
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Kerkennah Islands
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - North Atlantic
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Gulf of Guinea
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - South Pacific Ocean
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - North Pacific
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - North Sea
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Coastal Waters of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Australian part of the Tasman Sea
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Peruvian part of the South Pacific Ocean
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Japanese Sea
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Chile
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - South African Exclusive Economic Zone
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Bay of Fundy
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Canadian part of the North Atlantic Ocean
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Chilean part of the South Pacific Ocean
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Australian Exclusive Economic Zone
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Spanish part of the Balearic Sea
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Canadian part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - United States part of the North Pacific Ocean
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Hong Kong
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Japan
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Japanese part of the North Pacific Ocean
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Hawaiian part of the North Pacific Ocean
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - United States part of the North Atlantic Ocean
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Australian part of the Bass Strait
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Australian part of the Indian Ocean
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Brazilian part of the South Atlantic Ocean
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - South African part of the South Atlantic Ocean
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Argentinean Exclusive Economic Zone
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - South Korean Exclusive Economic Zone
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Saint-Pierre and Miquelon part of the Gulf of St-Lawrence
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Gulf of St. Lawrence
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - South African part of the Indian Ocean
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Chinese part of the Eastern China Sea
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Chinese part of the South China Sea
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Chinese part of the Yellow Sea
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - United Kingdom part of the English Channel
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Argentinean part of the South Atlantic Ocean
Distribution for Ciona intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1767) - Canadian part of the Bay of Fundy
Alien
Species introduced by man into places out of their natural range of distribution
Origin uncertain
Species whose biological status is uncertain i.e. it is uncertain if the species is native or alien to the location
Uncertain
Species whose invasiveness is uncertain
Invasive
Species that are known to be invasive- those species in whose cases evidence of impact has been recorded or which is spreading aggressively
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
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
Reported
Species that are 'reported' to be present but with no further information
Established
Species that have become established in their introduced range