Sea Squirts

Found these odd-shaped creatures, about 3 cms. high, stranded on the beach at Lundin Links. At first thought they were dead-mans fingers but decided against that as they were translucent and jelly-like. Fortunately met someone more knowledgeable who told me that they were sea squirts. Not sure of the identification but possibly Ascadiella scabra.

Sea Squirts also known as ascidians, are a marine class of animals that fall between the invertebrates and the vertebrates. They are simple animals that are often categorised with the invertebrates, however in their larval stage they do possess primitive vertebrate characteristics.   
                 

Although, as here, they may form clusters these particular sea squirts live as individual animals. They feed by siphoning nutrients from sea water. There are two short tubes or siphon openings which allow a flow of water through the body. Water is drawn through the inhalant siphon, and then expelled via the exhalent siphon. As the water circulates through the body; food and oxygen are removed from it and waste products are expelled.

If they are disturbed, they will force the water they contain out of both siphons at the same time which is how they get their name of sea squirt.