Phylum Chordata | Subphylum Tunicata/Urochordata | Class Ascidiacea
Yellow clustered bead ascidians
Eudistoma sp.*
Family Polycitoridae
updated Oct 08
Where seen? These clusters of yellow blobs are commonly seen on many of our Northern shores, on hard surfaces near the mid-water mark.

Features: Each blob about 1cm across, somewhat columnar with a rounded top. Clusters of blobs form on boulders and larger rocks, usually near the base and under overhangs. Also on jetty pilings.
Labrador, Mar 05
Blue-spotted flatworms have been seen near them, appearing to envelope a similarly shaped object. Do these worms eat the ascidian? There's still a lot to be discovered about our marine life.

Are they eaten by the Blue-spotted flatworm?
Changi, Jun 08
Yellow clustered bead ascidians on Singapore shores

Pulau Sekudu, Jun 06

Pulau Sekudu, May 08

Changi, Jun 08

more photos of yellow clustered bead ascidians on Singapore shores
part 1 | part 2

*Species are difficult to positively identify without examination of internal parts.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.
References
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