Introduction Oikopleura is a genus of small, free-floating, pelagic tunicates belonging to the class Appendicularia. These fascinating marine organisms are noted for their unique ability to produce intricate mucus houses, which they use to filter microscopic food particles from the water. Despite their small size, Oikopleura species play a vital…
Introduction Salp is a genus of free-floating, barrel-shaped tunicates belonging to the class Thaliacea within the subphylum Tunicata (Urochordata). These fascinating marine organisms are pelagic, found drifting in oceans worldwide, particularly in temperate and tropical regions. Known for their remarkable transparency and bioluminescence, Salp species play a vital role in…
Introduction Doliolum is a genus of small, free-swimming, barrel-shaped tunicates belonging to the class Thaliacea within the subphylum Tunicata (Urochordata) of the phylum Chordata. These pelagic organisms are found in oceans worldwide, typically in warm and temperate regions. Doliolum is known for its streamlined body, which is well-adapted for efficient…
Introduction Pyrosoma is a genus of free-floating colonial tunicates belonging to the subphylum Tunicata (Urochordata) in the phylum Chordata. These fascinating marine organisms form tubular colonies composed of hundreds to thousands of individual zooids embedded in a gelatinous matrix. Often referred to as "sea pickles" due to their shape and…
Introduction Herdmania, a genus of sea squirts belonging to the subphylum Tunicata (Urochordata), is a marine invertebrate commonly found in shallow coastal waters. These organisms are sac-like, sessile filter feeders enclosed in a protective tunic composed of tunicin, a cellulose-like material. As tunicates, Herdmania exhibits fascinating evolutionary traits, including the…
Introduction Ciona is a genus of sea squirts, marine invertebrates belonging to the subphylum Tunicata (Urochordata) within the phylum Chordata. Often called "sea vase" due to their vase-like appearance, species in this genus are sessile filter feeders, thriving in marine environments around the world. They are characterized by their translucent,…
Introduction Ascidia refers to a genus of sea squirts, which are sessile marine invertebrates belonging to the subphylum Tunicata (Urochordata) in the phylum Chordata. These intriguing organisms are often regarded as a bridge between invertebrates and vertebrates due to their chordate features, such as a notochord and a dorsal nerve…