Soestia zonaria (Pallas, 1774)

Franco, P., Dahms, H. - U., Lo, W. - T. & Hwang, J. - S., 2017, Pelagic tunicates in the China Seas, Journal of Natural History 51 (15 - 16), pp. 917-936 : 931

Soestia zonaria

Morphology

Aggregate forms of this salp have a large, prismatic body and tough test. The body is posteriorly asymmetrical, with a deep groove both dorsally and ventrally. A single, acentric projection is present at the posterior end. Muscle bands are clear and wide and are all ventrally interrupted; only MI is also dorsally interrupted. MIV and MV are dorsally united. Solitary form with a large body, conspicuously prismatic; tough and firm test. Its muscle bands are extremely wide, almost touching each other laterally. Muscle bands are dorsally and ventrally interrupted. Posterior ends of body with marked pointed projection. The intestine is encircled by the stolon. Aggregate form is up to 60 mm in length. The solitary form is up to 50 mm in length (authors’ personal observations; Marine Species Identification Portal 2017).

Biogeography

Eurythermal species from all oceans except for the Southern and Arctic oceans (WoRMS Editorial Board 2017).