Mystery Panda‑Face Sea Squirts Discovered Off Japan: Clavelina Ossipandae Unveiled

Panda-Like Sea Squirt "Clavelina Ossipandae"

In an enchanting turn of events, scientists have formally described a marine species that looks like a panda skeleton swimming underwater. The newly named Clavelina ossipandae, commonly dubbed the Skeleton Panda Sea Squirts, was discovered near Kumejima Island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Initially spotted in diver photos around 2017, these tiny ascidians reached scientific recognition only after a dedicated multidisciplinary effort involving university researchers, social media, and citizen science. 

What began as curious snapshots shared by divers online captured the imagination of marine biologist Naohiro Hasegawa from Hokkaido University. Seeing the uncanny resemblance to a panda—with black eye-like spots and white skeletal bands—he organized expeditions to collect specimens in 2021. By 2024, researchers confirmed the organism as a new species and published their findings in the journal Species Diversity. 

Fascinating Features of Clavelina ossipandae

• Each zooid measures only ~20 mm (~0.8 inches) with transparent bodies and distinctive black and white markings resembling a panda’s face. 

• White transverse blood vessels traverse the bodies, creating a skeleton-like banding effect, while black anterior pigment patches mimic panda eyes and nose. 

• Found at depths of around 10–20 m anchored to fast-current coral reefs near Kumejima Island. 

Sources: Indian Defence Review, Earth.Com, The Asahi Shimbun,