![]() ![]() They live by drawing seawater through their bodies. Most tunicates live with the posterior, or lower end of the barrel attached firmly to a fixed object, and have two openings, or siphons, projecting from the other. The name, "tunicate" comes from the firm, but flexible body covering, called a tunic. Because of these close ties, many scientists are working hard to learn about their biochemistry, their developmental biology, and their genetic relationship to other invertebrate and vertebrate animals.Ī tunicate is built like a barrel. Tunicates are part of the phylum Urochordata, closely related to the phylum Chordata that includes all vertebrates. It often comes as a surprise to learn that they are actually more closely related to vertebrates like ourselves than to most other invertebrate animals. To most people they look like small, colored blobs. Tunicates, commonly called sea squirts, are a group of marine animals that spend most of their lives attached to docks, rocks or the undersides of boats. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |