Golden Star Tunicate

Botryllus schlosseri

Sighting evidence at Mire Loch Wall, St. Abbs Head

Golden star tunicates form star-shaped colonial patterns across boulders and kelp stipes at Mire Loch Wall, each golden or purple star consisting of individual zooids embedded in a shared tunic. They are among the most evolutionarily significant organisms in cold-water British diving — tunicates are the closest invertebrate relatives of vertebrates — and their stunning visual effect under dive torches makes them a favourite macro subject. The Mire Loch Wall has exceptional coverage due to reduced disturbance.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Golden Star Tunicate is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.