ChordataUrochordata

Tunicates

Created by: Tanna Holliday & Makhaya Richards7th period5/19/09

Sea squirts

http://tolweb.org/Urochordata/14821

http://tolweb.org/Urochordata/14821

Classification• Phylum Chordata

• Class Apendicularia (Sea Squirts)

• Class Ascidiacea

• Class Thaliacea (Scalps)

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=sea+squirts&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=

The Body (Tunicates)

• Bilateral Symmetrical• Notochord- Body structure gained while

maturing, lost when adult, but replaced by vertebrates (backbone) in later life.

• Body Structure- a semi-flexible rod running through the length of their body

• They lack bone• Muscles work against the body for

locomotion

Reproductive system

• Are hermaphroditic (both male and female at the same time)

• Sperm are released into the sea while the eggs are kept inside the body.

• Eggs are fertilized by new sperm coming in with incoming water

• Eggs kept inside until they hatch

Digestive system

• They eat by taking water in through inhalant siphon

• Water goes through pharynx and that is where particles of water are filtered

• Current is kept by beating cilia

• They are able to push water out of their Ariel cavity by contracting muscles if frightened

Circulatory System

• Blood is pumped by sinuses.

• They are not true blood vessels but do the same function

• If the heart stops pumping and restarts the blood will flow in the opposite direction it was before the heart stopped.

Respiratory System

• Oxygen diffusion in the bronchial sack (A.K.A lungs)

• Pump water through the bronchial sack and get the oxygen from the water

http://biodidac.bio.uottawa.ca/Thumbnails/showimage.cfm?File_name=UROC005B&File_type=GIF

Environment

• Tunicates live on rocky shores

• Also found in great depths of oceans

http://media.npr.org/programs/day/features/2007/feb/tunicate200.jpg

Interaction with Humans

• Since sea squirts live in the depths of the ocean humans do not have much interaction with them

• We usually would not eat them

Fun Facts

• Tunicates are evolutionary links between invertebrates and vertebrates

http://www.discoverjamaica.com/shop/mona/images/gallery/clavelina_picta3.jpg

Pics!!!

Bibliography

• http://www.tolweb.org/tree/

• http://www.earthlife.net/

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/Photography/Images/Content/sea-squirts-and-clingfish-377523-sw.jpg/