Fol, 1872
Description
A medium sized appendicularian species. The trunk is elongated and narrow, dorsally slightly concave. Tail with narrow muscular bands and without sub-chordal glands.
A large diverticulum (caecum) extending from the left stomach lobe, obliquely backwards, giving the trunk a characteristic aspect for this species. The intestine and the rectum are elongated. Mouth is turned upwards and has a pronounced lower lip.
The endostyle is short and broad, there are no buccal glands. The ovary is rather flat; the paired testes are long, covering most of the stomach.
Size
Body length 1.0-1.4 mm.
Depth range
Distribution in the North Sea
Occasionally entering the northern North Sea in September (Lohmann, 1901).
World distribution
Semi-cosmopolitan in temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans; also in the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea. In the North Atlantic Ocean occasionally transported with the Gulf Stream up to 60°N. Absent from the Arctic Ocean.