Directory of Urochordata Resources

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The subphylum Urochordata, is also sometimes known as the Tunicata. These animals are commonly known as tunicates or sea squirts. Some pelagic tunicates are known as salps. There are two classes recognized within the subphylum: Thaliacea and Ascidiacea. The body of an adult tunicate is quite simple. Essentially it is a sack with two siphons through which water enters and exits. Many tunicates have a larva that is free-swimming and exhibits all chordate characteristics, including a notochord. In many tunicates this "tadpole larva" eventually attaches to a hard surface and loses its tail, the ability to move, and most of its nervous system. The tunicate group knows as salps are entirely free-swimming, however.

Resources in This Category

• Archives of Tunicata E-mail List

  http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/tunicata.html
  Subscription information and archives.

• Ascidiacea

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascidiacea
  Photograph and article from Wikipedia on the tunicates, including their life history, fertilisation and ecology.

• Ascidian Home Page for the United States

  http://depts.washington.edu/ascidian/
  Home page for Ascidian News, a twice yearly newsletter published by Charles and Gretchen Lambert, with recent worldwide publication citations, meetings abstracts and work in progress. The Ascidiaceae are a family in the Phylum Urochordata and are commonly known as tunicates or sea squirts.

• Botryllus schlosseri: Star Tunicate

  http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Botryllus_schlosseri.htm
  Photographs and information on this species, including its taxonomy, description, habitat, distribution, life history, population biology, physical tolerances, community ecology and information on its invasivness.

• Dutch Ascidian Website

  http://www.ascidians.com/
  Hundreds of images of ascidian species photographed all over the world, and a few photographs of salps (Thaliacea).

• Larvaceans

  http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artsep03/jmclarva.html
  Photographic study by Jean-Marie Cavanihac of these marine organisms.

• Nonindigenous Aquatic Species: Tunicates

  http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/SpeciesList.asp?Group=Tunicates
  Species list from the USGS on the nonindigenous tunicates found in US waters, with factsheets and collection details for each.

• Oikopleura's Fishing House

  http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artjan01/oiko.html
  Article with photographs by Wim van Egmond on this Larvacean and its delicate “house”.

• Salp

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salp
  Photograph and article from Wikipedia on this barrel-shaped tunicate, including its distribution, nervous systems, relationships and classification.

• Sea Squirts: our Distant Cousins

  http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artaug98/tuni1.html
  Article by Wim van Egmond on the life cycle and development of these Ascidians with several photographs.

• Styela plicata: Pleated Tunicate

  http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Styela_plicata.htm
  Photographs and information on this species, including its taxonomy, description, habitat, distribution, life history, population biology, physical tolerances, community ecology and invasion information.

• The Salps (Class Thaliacea)

  http://www.earthlife.net/inverts/thaliacea.html
  Information from the Earthlife Web on the colony-forming Pyrosomida and the non-colonial Salpida and Doliolida, including their description and their complex life cycle.

• The Tunicate, Styela: A Community Housing Project

  http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artjan03/rhstyela.html
  Article by Richard Howey about tunicates, and the many organisms that made their home on the outer surface of the specimen he was examining.

• Tunicate Eggs

  http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/micropolitan/marine/egg/frame2.html
  Photomicrograph of three developing eggs.

• Tunicate Larvae

  http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/micropolitan/marine/egg/frame3.html
  Photomicrograph of two tadpole-like larvae developing inside eggs.

• Tunicates Extraordinaire

  http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artdec00/tunicp1.html
  Interesting personal account by Jean-Marie Cavanihac of her observations on the eggs and larval stages of the Ascidians and Botryllus, accompanied by excellent photographs. Further accounts of Salps, Doliolids and Larvaceans with more photographs and video clips.

• Tunicates of the West Coast of North America

  http://convoluta.ucdavis.edu/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=West_Coast_Tunicates
  Many photographs of ascidians including both native and introduced species.

• Tunicates with Salad on the Side

  http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artnov98/rhtunic.html
  Essay by Richard Howey on the tunicates and their biology with a look at other organisms that also foul the hulls of ships.

• Urochordata

  http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/chordata/urochordata.html
  Introduction to the Urochordata, with photos.

 

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