This is yet another example of mum discovering something interesting while I was in bed, sleep. My mum and nephew had gone rockpooling in the harbour when she noticed this specimen. It piqued the interest of my field naturalist club friend, who had suggested that is slightly resembled Botrylloides violaceus.
B. violaceaus differs from B. Schlosseri due to having double lines instead of the star/ring shape. And, unlike B. Leachii, it is the one colour.
I wasn’t able to photograph this exact specimen again this trip, due to being overwhelmed and not being sure what to photograph. I now have a better idea of what to get next time.
I agree that it doesn’t look like the typical Botryllus schlosseri. It could be because it is the only one I saw on a plant, and parts of the plant could be obscuring it. It could also just be the angle.
We will hopefully find out more next trip.
