UROCHORDATA Meaning and
Definition
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Urochordata, also known as Tunicates or Sea Squirts, is a phylum of marine invertebrate animals. Urochordates are characterized by their unique bodily structure, which includes a protective tunic that encloses their bodies. This tunic is composed of a substance called tunicin, which gives them their name.
Urochordates exhibit a wide range of body shapes and sizes, but most of them are sessile filter feeders, attaching themselves to various substrates such as rocks or shells. They possess a sac-like body plan, with two siphons protruding from one end. One siphon draws in water, filtering out microscopic food particles, while the other expels waste water.
These organisms possess a notochord in their larval stages, which leads to their classification as chordates, sharing a distant evolutionary relationship with vertebrates. However, as adults, they do not retain a notochord, leading to their classification as urochordates rather than vertebrates.
Urochordates are widespread across different oceanic habitats, including both shallow waters and deep-sea environments. They play crucial roles in marine ecosystems by stabilizing sediments and providing shelter for smaller organisms.
Furthermore, urochordates have attracted scientific interest due to their unique developmental processes and morphological characteristics, offering insights into the evolution of more complex organisms, such as vertebrates. The study of urochordates has contributed significantly to our understanding of fundamental biological concepts and evolutionary relationships within the animal kingdom.
Common Misspellings for UROCHORDATA
Etymology of UROCHORDATA
The word urochordata is derived from the Greek words oura, meaning tail, and chordata, referring to the phylum Chordata, which includes animals possessing a notochord (flexible rod-like structure) at some stage of their development. In urochordates, the tail-like structure during their larval stage is one of the prominent features, hence the name urochordata.
Similar spelling words for UROCHORDATA
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