Leslie Harris, USA
Info
Pyura chilensis Molina, 1782
This sea squirt is also one of the main food sources for other local aquatic species such as the Chilean abalone (Concholepas conholepas), whose distribution has threatened Pyura chilensis for more than two decades, severely limiting its growth.
Many locals don wetsuits and goggles to harvest the delicacy, usually in rocky areas near the coast, but occasionally further out to sea. The meat has an intense flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked. Its flavor has been described as iodine-like and a "slightly bitter, soapy taste."
The meat is sold in strips, but can also be canned. It is exported to numerous countries, including Sweden (32.5% of exports) and Japan (24.2%) since 2007. There are health concerns about the safety of consumption due to the high concentration of vanadium, as vanadium is a heavy metal that is considered toxic in large
Synonymised names:
Ascidia pyura Gmelin, 1791 · unaccepted (original combination)
Cynthia chilensis (Molina, 1782) · unaccepted (new combination)
Cynthia clavigera Traustedt, 1883 · unaccepted (original combination)
Cynthia nodulosa Drasche, 1884 · unaccepted (original combination)
Cynthia socialis Troschell, 1852 · unaccepted (original combination)
Halocynthia chilensis (Molina, 1782) · unaccepted (new combination)
Pyura clavigera (Traustedt, 1883) · unaccepted (new combination)
Pyura molinae Blainville, 1824 · unaccepted (original combination)
This sea squirt is also one of the main food sources for other local aquatic species such as the Chilean abalone (Concholepas conholepas), whose distribution has threatened Pyura chilensis for more than two decades, severely limiting its growth.
Many locals don wetsuits and goggles to harvest the delicacy, usually in rocky areas near the coast, but occasionally further out to sea. The meat has an intense flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked. Its flavor has been described as iodine-like and a "slightly bitter, soapy taste."
The meat is sold in strips, but can also be canned. It is exported to numerous countries, including Sweden (32.5% of exports) and Japan (24.2%) since 2007. There are health concerns about the safety of consumption due to the high concentration of vanadium, as vanadium is a heavy metal that is considered toxic in large
Synonymised names:
Ascidia pyura Gmelin, 1791 · unaccepted (original combination)
Cynthia chilensis (Molina, 1782) · unaccepted (new combination)
Cynthia clavigera Traustedt, 1883 · unaccepted (original combination)
Cynthia nodulosa Drasche, 1884 · unaccepted (original combination)
Cynthia socialis Troschell, 1852 · unaccepted (original combination)
Halocynthia chilensis (Molina, 1782) · unaccepted (new combination)
Pyura clavigera (Traustedt, 1883) · unaccepted (new combination)
Pyura molinae Blainville, 1824 · unaccepted (original combination)
