Story: Marine animals without backbones

Sea tulips (3rd of 3)

Sea tulips

Commonly found growing alongside bladder kelp around the South Island and Chatham Islands, these stalked sea squirts are known as sea tulips or kāeo (Boltenia pachydermatina). Their wrinkly, purple bodies are attached to a long tough stalk. Large specimens can be 1 metre long.

Using this item

Department of Conservation
Reference: 10050224
Photograph by K. R. Grange

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How to cite this page:

Dennis Gordon and Maggy Wassilieff, 'Marine animals without backbones - Tunicates: sea squirts, salps and appendicularians', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/5869/sea-tulips (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Dennis Gordon and Maggy Wassilieff, published 12 Jun 2006