Pegea confoederata (Forskal, 1775)

Franco, P., Dahms, H. - U., Lo, W. - T. & Hwang, J. - S., 2017, Pelagic tunicates in the China Seas, Journal of Natural History 51 (15 - 16), pp. 917-936 : 932

Pegea confoederata

Morphology

Aggregates form with a loose flabby test. There are no posterior projections or protuberances. MI– MII and MIII–MIV touch or fuse mid-dorsally, each muscle pair forming a cross. Muscle bands are short and interrupted before they reach the mid-lateral region. Stomach is spherical. Solitary forms have a pear-shaped test. MI– MII and M3III–MIV touch or fuse, each pair forming a cross. Gut is compact and encircled by a stolon. The length of the aggregate form is up to 150 mm; the length of the solitary form is up to 120 mm (authors’ personal observations ( Marine Species Identification Portal 2017).

Biogeography

Cosmopolitan, eurythermal species, occurring between ca. 60°N and 45°S. A common salp species. Living near the surface, epipelagic (WoRMS Editorial Board 2017).