TUNICATA : Aplousobranchia : PolyclinidaeSEA SQUIRTS

Aplidium glabrum (Verrill, 1871)


Aplidium glabrum image: aplgla
Aplidium glabrum

Description: A colonial ascidian consisting of groups of very flat-topped lobes closely pressed together, with sand coated sides. The upper surface is clean, and brown in colour. 5mm thick x 10mm diameter.

Habitat: Apparently a species usually found in the circalittoral, often in sand-scoured sites.

Distribution: Reported to be a northern form in the British Isles, rarely recorded.

Similar Species: The name used here for this species is somewhat doubtful, but it is a distinctive entity.

Key Identification Features:

  • Brown, flattened lobes, closely pressed together.
  • Sand coated sides, producing honeycomb effect.
  • Internal anatomy.

Distribution Map from NBN: Aplidium glabrum at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Aplidium glabrum at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

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 Picton, B.E., Keatley, L. & Morrow, C.C. (2026). Aplidium glabrum. (Verrill, 1871). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=ZD600. Accessed on 2026-11-01