sea squirt
Sessile marine filter-feeder
A sea squirt is a barrel-shaped marine invertebrate that attaches to rocks, docks, and other underwater surfaces.
The name comes from their habit of squirting water when disturbed.
Despite their blob-like adult form, sea squirts are chordates—sharing an evolutionary branch with vertebrates.
Their tadpole-like larvae have a primitive spinal cord that dissolves as they mature into stationary filter feeders.
Coated marine invertebrate
- chordateNotochord-possessing animal
- salpPlanktonic tunicate
- colonialOf occupied territories
- solitaryExisting alone, apart
subphylum · invertebrate · sessile · benthic · marine invertebrate
Embryonic axial support structure
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
- genomeOrganism's total hereditary material
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
- body planOrganism's fundamental structural arrangement
Loose hip-length top
- cellulosePlant wall polysaccharide
- siphonLiquid transfer tube
- mantleCovering or wrap
- atriumRoofed central hall
gonad · heart · stomach · intestine · ampullae · stolons · blood cells · vanadium
Animal straining waterborne nutrients
- siphonLiquid transfer tube
- planktonDrifting marine microlife
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- tunicLoose hip-length top
pharynx · water flow · detritus · microorganisms · nutrients · gill slits
Coastline of boulders
- dockMooring structure at water's edge
- tidal poolCoastal depression holding seawater
- reefUnderwater rock or coral formation
- kelp forestSeaweed-dominated underwater ecosystem
seafloor · subtidal · intertidal · attachment · substrate · encrusting · invasive species · marina
tunicate
Coated marine invertebrate
solitary · subphylum · invertebrate · sessile · benthic · marine invertebrate
notochord
Embryonic axial support structure
- metamorphosisProfound biological restructuring
- genomeOrganism's total hereditary material
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
tunic
Loose hip-length top
atrium · gonad · heart · stomach · intestine · ampullae · stolons · blood cells · vanadium · translucent
filter feeder
Animal straining waterborne nutrients
- siphonLiquid transfer tube
- planktonDrifting marine microlife
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
tunic · pharynx · water flow · detritus · microorganisms · nutrients · gill slits
rocky shore
Coastline of boulders
- dockMooring structure at water's edge
- tidal poolCoastal depression holding seawater
- reefUnderwater rock or coral formation
kelp forest · seafloor · subtidal · intertidal · attachment · substrate · encrusting · invasive species · marina
- invertebratesinvertebrate, arthropod, arthropods, mollusk, crustacean
- sea creaturescrab, lobster, shrimp, jellyfish, octopus
- filter feedersfilter feeder, filter feeders, filter feeding, baleen whale, whale shark
- intertidal zonetide pool, tide pools, rock pool, rockpool, rockpools
- invasive speciesinvasive species, lionfish, emerald ash borer, noxious weeds, kudzu
- reef invertebratescoral, soft coral, sponge, brain coral, fan coral
sea squirtgreat white shark
Largest predatory fish
orca · barracuda · moray eel · lionfish · anglerfish