sea squirts
Sea squirts, also known as tunicates, are marine animals that belong to the phylum Chordata. They are typically found attached to rocks, shells, or other surfaces in shallow waters. Sea squirts have a soft, sac-like body and can vary in color, including shades of orange, yellow, and purple. They filter feed by drawing in water through an opening, extracting plankton and nutrients, and expelling the filtered water.
As adults, sea squirts are sessile, meaning they do not move from their chosen spot. However, their larvae are free-swimming and possess a notochord, a feature that links them to other chordates, including fish and mammals. This unique life cycle highlights their evolutionary significance in the animal kingdom.