Didemnum vexillum

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Didemnum vexillum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Tunicata
Class: Ascidiacea
Order: Aplousobranchia
Family: Didemnidae
Genus: Didemnum
Species: D. vexillum
Binomial name
Didemnum vexillum
(Kott, 2002)

Didemnum vexillum is a species of tunicate in the family Didemnidae. Native to the waters around Japan, it has been reported as an invasive species in a number of places in Europe and North America,[1] most recently in Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland.[2]

This bottom colonizing tunicate can build over most substrates including cobble and will grow over other organisms when it needs more room to expand.[3] Its appearance has given rise to its common name marine vomit.

Tunicate colony of Didemnum vexillum. Large openings are cloacal apertures; brown material in them is interpreted to be fecal matter in cavities below the apertures.


  1. ^ Invasive marine species discovered
  2. ^ Carpet sea squirt found in Lough
  3. ^ Leeuw, T; Boss, ES; Slade, WH (2011). "Spectral Reflectance as a Method to Identify the Invasive Tunicate Didemnum vexillum". In: Pollock NW, ed. Diving for Science 2011. Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences 30th Symposium. Dauphin Island, AL: AAUS; 2011. Retrieved 2013-03-18.