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Molgula manhattensis - Sea grape

Current distribution Molgula manhattensis (De Kay, 1843) (1778 OBIS-datapoints, 2010 GBIF-datapoints)
The sea grape Molgula manhattensis has been present for a long time in Europe, along the east coast of America, and around Australia. However, some authors are convinced that the American and European populations are two distinct species. Therefore, we cannot consider this tunicate as a non-native species. In Belgium, the species got first observed and reported in the mid-19th century in the port of Ostend. Later, the species settled in the ports of Zeebrugge and Blankenberge. The sea grape is believed to have arrived here by attachment to the hulls of ships.