Carpet sea squirt

Didemnum vexillum

Identification image pending

What

Carpet sea squirt is recorded by a competent New Zealand authority as an introduced or managed marine biosecurity subject. Source context (Australian Government Department of Agriculture): Forms extensive, usually yellow but sometimes pink/tan/pale-orange colonies with rope-like tendrils; the material can overgrow infrastructure, algae, shellfish, and sponges. Expert differentiation from other colonial ascidians remains necessary.

Why

The source identifies ecological or marine biosecurity risks relevant to surveillance and spread prevention. Source context (Environmental Protection Authority): In New Zealand, cited biosecurity material describes fouling of salmon-farm predator-exclusion nets and cultured mussel lines and the capacity to overgrow high-value structures/organisms.

Where

Known presence and management boundaries are location-specific and must be checked against current authoritative controls.

Established knowledge

For consequential field decisions, consider the knowledge state and cited sources for each claim, and consult authoritative guidance where appropriate. Information and reliance terms

50% reference coverage — not scientific certainty or ecological progress

Identification
NZ status
Ecological impact
Sources

Open knowledge

These are parts of the public picture that could become clearer with better evidence.

Distribution
Visual clues
Confusion species
Regional intelligence

Sources & credits

Fisheries New Zealand — established marine fauna pestsauthoritative · Canonical identity, New Zealand marine status and threat context
Australian Government Department of Agriculture — Carpet sea squirt (what)authoritative · Supports the attributed what context. Source scope and dates apply; this does not establish current local presence, current legal status or media reuse permission.
Environmental Protection Authority — Carpet sea squirt (ecological-impact)authoritative · Supports the attributed ecological-impact context. Source scope and dates apply; this does not establish current local presence, current legal status or media reuse permission.

Prepare related field media

Field observations

Field observations connect sightings and signs with a place, time and source. They can support evidence after review. This dossier does not accept public submissions.

No field observations are published for this Target.

Commentary

Local experience, corrections and context help explain the public record. Commentary is not verified knowledge. This dossier does not accept public comments.

No commentary is published for this Target.

Questions and Missions

What can the sources tell us, and what still needs evidence? Explore dossier discoveries and research questions to understand this Target. Research leads identify knowledge gaps; they are not field assignments.

Explore Missions and Hunt mode for Carpet sea squirt

Where is carpet sea squirt currently established or emerging in New Zealand waters?Research question · evidence needed
What verified evidence distinguishes current ecological impact from presence alone for carpet sea squirt?Research question · evidence needed

Shout Out

Share this record so others can explore the same question, place or ecological work. The link keeps its context and sources together.

Carpet sea squirt — The Hit List — NZ Ex Games

Canonical link

/hit-list/marine-carpet-sea-squirt

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