15. Taxon Group: Unitary Ascidiacea

This is part of the collection "DToL Taxon-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Marine Metazoa", lead by the Other Metazoa Working Group. The SOP collection contains guidance on how to process the various marine Metazoa species within the scope of the Darwin Tree of Life project. The guidance specifically refers to the tissue samples needed for DNA barcoding (which takes place at the Natural History Museum (NHM) and at the Marine Biological Association (MBA)) and outlines the dissected tissues required for whole genome sequencing, which takes place at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Every specimen is submitted for DNA barcoding first before potentially being sent to the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

Definition: Ascidiacea, commonly known as the ascidians or sea squirts, can be described as sac-like marine invertebrate filter feeders.They are characterized by a tough outer layer called a "tunic", in fact made of a polysaccharide. This SOP covers unitary or solitary ascidians, which form clumped communities attached at their bases.

Including: Families Cionidae, Ascidiidae, Corellidae, Pyuridae, Molgulidae, unitary Styelidae.

Excluding: Colonial Ascidiacea; see separate SOP in the complete SOP collection.

See the Guidelines for important details and checklists.