Phylum Chordata - Sea Squirts

A few of the chors lack vertebrae, and hence are invertebrates. Among these are the sea squirts and the larvaceans, Sea squirts are round gelatinous animals with two short siphons projecting from the body. Water laden with planktonic food is drawn into one of these tubes, the food is digested and the water is forced out the other tube. They are sessile animals that can be found on oyster reefs, on pilings and on old shells. Larvaceans are peculiar planktonic animals that resemble smalltadpoles in which the tail is attached at right angles to the head, They live in disposable gelatinous "houses" equipped with filters for straining food from the water.