Tunicate: Difference between revisions

The tunicate has three types of chordate structures. These structure may or may not appear in either the larval or adult stage of their life. If you go inside of the tunicates central cavity, you will see that they have many gill slits, as apart of their respiration activities. [http://universe-review.ca/R10-33-anatomy.htm] The tunicates are mostly sedentary, which means that they stay in one place, on one rock, most of their lifetime. Their tunic (or their hard, protective body covering) is made up of cellulose, and this is where there name originated from. [http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/animals1/phylum/chordata.html] The tunicates are usually in the form of some sort of cylindar. Some have opens on both sides, others however, don't. Many tunicates form colonies, which are tunicates somewhat attached to each other, and form long "rope" type colonies. [http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0849688.html] At the larval stage, the tunicate has a notochord, brain, and gills. At the adult stage, the tunicate has many more structures. Along with the brain, notochord, and gills, it also develops a digestive system and a circulatory system. There is a sac by one of the siphons that takes the oxygen from the water, so the tunicate can breath. Food also comes in through one of theses siphons. At the other end, there is another siphon, that lets out all the waste and things that did not digest. [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562867/Tunicate.html]

Image:Blue bell tunicate.jpg|Common-name<br />  (''Clavelina puertosecensis'')<br />  Subtaxa:name

Image:Light bulb.jpg|Common-name<br />  (''Clavelina oblonga'')<br />  Subtaxa:name

Image:transclucent tunicate.jpg|Common-name<br /> (''Ciona intestinalis'')<br />  Subtaxa:name