Diversity and Distribution of Ascidians (Tunicata) in the Pelican Cays, Belize

The Pelican Cays at the southern end of the Belize Barrier Reef, Central America, have a rich ascidian fauna. Seventy species in thirty genera, primarily from mangrove ponds and coral ridges, are recorded here. This number of species represents 60% of all known shallow-water ascidians in the Caribbean. The inventory includes two species normally associated with the Indo-Pacific region, Diplosoma virens and Botrylloides perspicuum. The principal habitat of each species in the Pelican Cays and the general ecology of the ascidian fauna are also discussed.