Tunicata

Tu`ni`ca´ta

pr. n. pl.

1.

(Zool.) A grand division of the animal kingdom, intermediate, in some respects, between the invertebrates and vertebrates, and in modern classifications considered a subphylum of the vertebrates; called also urochordata. They were formerly classed with acephalous mollusks. The body is usually covered with a firm external tunic, consisting in part of cellulose, and having two openings, one for the entrance and one for the exit of water. The pharynx is usually dilated in the form of a sac, pierced by several series of ciliated slits, and serves as a gill.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Tunicata - tunicates                             subphylum Tunicata, subphylum Urochorda, subphylum Urochordata, Urochorda, Urochordata Chordata, phylum Chordata - comprises true vertebrates and animals having a notochord tunicate, urochord, urochordate - primitive marine animal having a saclike unsegmented body and a urochord that is conspicuous in the larva Ascidiaceae, class Ascidiaceae - sometimes classified as an order: sea squirts class Thaliacea, Thaliacea - small class of free-swimming tunicates; sometimes classified as an order class Larvacea, Larvacea - small free-swimming tunicates; sometimes classified as an order phylum - (biology) the major taxonomic group of animals and plants; contains classes