These animals are also called tunicates because of the presence of cellulose-like carbohydrate material called tunic that covers the outer body surface of these animals
They possess notochord only during the larval stage. The notochord at this stage is confined to the tail region only
The adult tunicates have only one feature of chordates, i.e., pharyngeal gill slits. The notochord, nerve cord and post-anal tail disappears in adults
They are hermaphroditic animals. The larvae hatch from the eggs inside the body of adult tunicate
They show retrogressive metamorphosis
Most of the Urochordates are sessile
They feed on plankton and detritus
Examples : Ascidia,Herdmania, Doliolum and Salpa
The following figure shows the comparative diagrams of larval and adult tunicate :
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Sub Phylum Urochordata - Characteristics Features
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