Thaliacea (Noun)
Meaning
Small class of free-swimming tunicates; sometimes classified as an order.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Thaliacea refers to a small class of free-swimming tunicates, also known as pelagic tunicates, which are found in the world's oceans.
- Thaliacea has sometimes been classified as an order within the larger class Ascidiacea, however some taxonomists consider it a distinct class.
- Free-swimming salps and other thaliaceans play a key role in the ocean's ecosystem by filtering tiny organisms and organic particles from the water.
- Researchers have been studying thaliaceans for insights into their unique ability to efficiently filter feed on small particles in the open ocean.
- Some thaliaceans are colonial, consisting of many zooids that are all connected by a network of tubes and vessels.