UROCHORDS Meaning and
Definition
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Urochords, also known as tunicates or sea squirts, are a group of marine invertebrates belonging to the phylum Chordata. These animals are characterized by their unique and distinctive outer covering called the tunic, which gives them their common name. Urochords are found in various marine environments, ranging from shallow coastal waters to the deep sea.
The body structure of urochords consists of a soft, sac-like body enclosed within the tunic. They typically have a barrel-like shape, with an open siphon at one end through which they filter water. Urochord species exhibit a high degree of morphological diversity, displaying a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes. Some species form colonies, while others are solitary organisms.
One of the defining features of urochords is their unique feeding mechanism. They use their specialized pharynx to filter feed on plankton and organic particles present in the water. In this process, water is drawn into the body through the siphon and passed through a series of filtering structures before being expelled through another siphon.
Despite their simple appearance, urochords possess certain characteristics that relate them to their chordate relatives, such as a notochord in the larval stage, which is used for locomotion. Larval urochords possess a primitive characteristic called the chordate tail, which they lose during metamorphosis into the adult form.
Urochords play a vital role in marine ecosystems as filter feeders, influencing nutrient cycling and contributing to water clarity. They also serve as a food source for various marine organisms. Some urochords have pharmaceutical and biomedical importance due to their chemical compounds that possess potential therapeutic properties.
Common Misspellings for UROCHORDS
- urochorde
- urochord
- urochordsa
- urochordea
- urochordal
Etymology of UROCHORDS
The word "urochords" is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "oura" meaning "tail" and "chordē" meaning "string" or "cord". The term "Urochordata" is used to refer to a phylum of marine animals, commonly known as tunicates or sea squirts. These animals possess a tail-like structure called a "urochord", which is formed by a fluid-filled sac containing a supportive rod-like structure known as a notochord. Hence, the name "Urochordata" emphasizes the presence of this tail structure in these organisms.
