Pyura stolonifera, commonly known in South Africa as red bait or rooi aas and in Australia as cunjevoi, is a sessile

Sessility (zoology)

In zoology, sessility is a characteristic of animals which are not able to move about. They are usually permanently attached to a solid substrate of some kind, such as a part of a plant or dead tree trunk, a rock, or the hull of a ship in the case of barnacles. Corals lay down their own...

 ascidian

Ascidiacea

Ascidiacea is a class in the Tunicata subphylum of sac-like marine invertebrate filter feeders. Ascidians are characterized by a tough outer "tunic" made of the polysaccharide tunicin, as compared to other tunicates which are less rigid.Ascidians are found all over the world, usually in shallow...

, or sea squirt, that lives in coastal waters.

Distribution

This species is found around the South African coast from Namibia

Namibia

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...

 to Durban

Durban

Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...

, and around the Australian coast south from Shark Bay

Shark Bay

Shark Bay is a World Heritage listed bay in Western Australia. The term may also refer to:* the locality of Shark Bay, now known as Denham* Shark Bay Marine Park* Shark Bay , a shark exhibit at Sea World, Gold Coast, Australia* Shire of Shark Bay...

, Western Australia, around to Noosa Heads

Noosa Heads, Queensland

Noosa Heads is one of the three major centres of the Noosa region on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is located north of Brisbane, the state's capital. The Noosa River forms one boundary of the town, the headlands of the Noosa National Park another...

, Queensland, as well as Tasmania. It is found from the shallow subtidal zone to at least 10m underwater.

In Australia, the species is known as cunjevoi

Cunjevoi

Cunjevoi is a word in Australian English that refers to three species: two related plants of the family Araceae and genus Alocasia, and a marine animal, Pyura stolonifera.-Plants:Cunjevoi can refer to:...

, or colloquially "cunjie", though the name also refers to two rainforest plants It was a common food source for the local Aboriginal people, but is now used mainly as fishing bait. It is a protected species in some parts of Sydney Harbour

Port Jackson

Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...

.

Description

Pyura stolonifera is a very large solitary ascidian. It can grow to well over 15 cm in height. It has a thick pale exterior or 'tunic' which has a wrinkled brown covering. It has large inhalant and exhalant siphons with slightly scalloped edges, usually set close together. It is usually thickly covered with encrusting organisms.