A notodelphyid species inhabits in the colonial ascidian, Diplosoma virens
that contains photosynthetic symbionts Prochloron sp. in the cloacal canal.
The gut contents of the notodelphyids were examined by light and electron
microscopy to estimate their diet. Since the gut contents are almost homoge
neous, the notadelphyids are probably monophagous. The histochemical staina
bility of the gut contents suggests that they mainly feed on the host tunic
. Although the host faeces and the fragments of the algal symbionts are som
etimes found in the gut contents, they would be accidentally ingested by th
e notodelphyids.