Sea Strawberry

Aplidium elegans

Aplidium elegans forms firm, flattened globular masses that resemble pink cushions, typically measuring 3 to 4 cm in length. The colonies exhibit a deep pink coloration with large white papillae surrounding the inhalant siphons of the zooids. The arrangement of zooids within the colony creates a meandering pattern, with cloacal canals interspersed between them. This species is found in shallow waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, particularly between France and the United Kingdom, inhabiting rocky substrates at depths ranging from 5 to 20 meters. Colonies prefer moderately exposed rocky sites, often in areas with moderate tidal streams. As a colonial sea squirt, Aplidium elegans consists of multiple zooids embedded in a common test, which is a protective layer secreted by the mantle. Each zooid has an oral siphon for drawing in water to collect nutrients and a cloaca for expelling water. The species is hermaphroditic, capable of both cross- and self-fertilization, with eggs developing into lecithotrophic larvae before settling as benthic adults. Encounters with this species during dives may reveal its unique cushion-like appearance, and divers should look for its characteristic coloration and structure on rocky surfaces. The conservation status of Aplidium elegans is not evaluated, indicating its presence in various locations.