We have a container in our touch tank at Hampton Beach with some small and very fragile animals that we ask the visitors to observe only. It contains nudibranchs (sea slugs), a tiny sea anemone, glass shrimp and a few sea vases.
The sea vases are an interesting addition, and everyone seems astounded that they are live animals. They are a species of tunicate in the family of sea squirts. I guess the name has been derived from the water that unexpectedly squirts out of their siphons when they are picked up.
The sea vase is considered an invasive species everywhere in the world except Europe. I find this interesting as the literature states that no one is quite sure exactly where they originated prior to spreading across the globe. Sea vases were first found in Boston Harbor on a sunken ship in 1838, according to the Smithsonian. They seem to arrive in massive blooms and can be found everywhere on boats, pilings and rocks. They come to an area and then suddenly disappear completely.
I first found these animals several years ago on the dock in Seabrook Harbor. They are a member of the sea squirt tunicates. What does that mean? Believe it or not, they are vertebrates! Yes, the definition of a vertebrate is that they have a spine…