Ink-spot sea squirt

Scientific name : Polycarpa aurata

Large (up to 15 cm) ascidian, very easy to identify for the white-yellow-blue colour with a stained irregular pattern.
Very common along the external reef, where it can range amongst the dominating species. The photo puts in evidence the oral siphon, with hair to stop large particles, and the folded gill sac.
Easy to identify due to the colour pattern.
The tunic is always clean from epibiotic organisms, probably because producing a natural anti-fouling.

Associated organisms
Sometimes with the commensal goby Pleurosicya mossambica.