Carpet sea squirt

Scientific name

Didemnum vexillum

Key features

Key features of Carpet sea squirt include:

• range of colours – pinkish, tan or pale orange, greyish-white
• grows in an encrusting manner or forms rope-like tendrils.

Habitat

The Carpet sea squirt:

• found on most hard surfaces including natural and artificial structures (marinas, moorings, etc.)
• found in estuaries and marine waters from low tide mark to 80m.

Impacts

The Carpet sea squirt:

• overgrows and smothers native species
• crowds out mussels and scallops
• causes major fouling of wharf pylons, buoys, marinas, pontoons, water intake systems, aquaculture equipment, etc.

Known established populations

The Carpet sea squirt is currently not present in Victoria.