Orange encrusting ascidian

Scientific name : Didemnum cf. rubeum

Encrusting colony with many common cloacal siphons higher than the surrounding oral siphons. Orange or red colour. Many didemnids have a similar organization, the red-orange colour is distintive for this species. All have in common the oral siphons opening at all levels around a common cloaca. At a first glance, confusion is possible with an encrusting sponge: putting a hand close, gently, if siphons close this must be an ascidian (sponges can not close their pores).

Associated organisms
Often growing on the basal part of dead black coral stems