White-Spotted Sea Squirt

Pycnoclavella diminuta

Pycnoclavella diminuta is a colonial tunicate that forms small clusters of zooids, each measuring approximately 0.5 to 1 cm in length. The zooids are golden yellow-orange and adorned with well-defined white spots that vary in shape and size but remain consistent within the colony. This species can be distinguished from the similar Pycnoclavella flava by its clearly defined spots. It inhabits the Indo-West Pacific region, including areas such as Australia, New Caledonia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Typically found at depths ranging from 5 to 20 metres, it prefers caves and areas under ledges, often coexisting with soft corals like Dendronephthya and Scleronephthya. As a sessile suspension feeder, it filters food from the water, primarily consuming plankton and organic matter. Reproduction involves both cross- and self-fertilization, with hermaphroditic individuals laying eggs that develop into lecithotrophic larvae before settling as benthic adults. Encounters with this species during dives can be intriguing as divers observe its unique coloration and colony structure in its natural habitat. The conservation status of Pycnoclavella diminuta is not evaluated.