Colonial tunicate

Pyrosome

Pyrosoma atlanticum

PacificAtlanticIndianSouthernArctic Found in 3 oceans

Warm and temperate waters of all the major oceans, except the polar seas

Depth

0 to 800 m, rises at night

Size

Colony of 10 to 60 cm

Diet

Filtered phytoplankton

Zone

Twilight zone · 200 – 1,000 m

Key facts

• It is not a single animal but a colony of thousands of clones called zooids.
• Its name means “fire body”: it glows intensely when touched.
• The zooids pump water, which slowly moves the colony forward.

Verified sources

1. Scripps Zooplankton Guide - Pyrosoma atlanticum
2. Wikipedia - Pyrosoma
3. SeaLifeBase, Pyrosoma atlanticum

In the game: To observe

In the same zone

Deep-sea red shrimpAcanthephyra purpurea Velvet belly lanternsharkEtmopterus spinax ViperfishChauliodus sloani Goblin sharkMitsukurina owstoni BarreleyeMacropinna microstoma Vampire squidVampyroteuthis infernalis