Invertebrate
Kaeo Sea Tulip
Pyura pachydermatinaAlso known as Kāeo, Sea Tulip
Kaeo sea tulips are solitary ascidians anchored to rocky reefs by a long, flexible stalk that sways rhythmically with incoming ocean swells. Their bulbous bodies pump continuous streams of seawater through internal siphons to sieve microscopic food particles. Often colonised by filamentous algae and encrusting bryozoans, these tunicates provide miniature vertical habitats within temperate subtidal ecosystems.
MarineFilter FeederSessile
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPhytoplankton, Bacterioplankton, Suspended organic detritus
Predators
- Eleven-armed sea star
- Reef fish
- Predatory sea snails
ThreatsCoastal sedimentation, pollution, and severe storm surge displacement
HabitatsTemperate rocky reefs, kelp beds, and shallow subtidal zones
Life span1–3 years
Classification
- OrderStolidobranchia
- FamilyPyuridae
- GenusPyura
- SpeciesPyura pachydermatina
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Diving Etiquette: Avoid pulling on stalks or kicking reef communities with fins during dives.
- Tidal Observation: Look for exposed specimens on deep low tides around sheltered rocky headlands.
Image unavailableCompetitor Predator Close Relative
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