Bathochordaeus

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Bathochordaeus
Bathochordaeus charon compared to B. stygius.gif
Bathochordaeus charon (A to C) and B. stygius (E to F)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Tunicata
Class: Appendicularia
Order: Copelata
Family: Oikopleuridae
Subfamily: Bathochordaeinae
Genus: Bathochordaeus
Chun, 1900 [1]
Species

Bathochordaeus, the giant larvaceans, is a genus of larvacean tunicates in the family Oikopleuridae. They are free-swimming filter-feeding marine animals that build mucus bubbles. They eat tiny particles of dead or drifting organic material that float through the water column, which contribute to the oceanic carbon cycle and the accelerated transfer of carbon to the deep sea. [2]

Contents

Description

They are much larger than other genera of larvaceans, ranging from 3 to 10 centimeters in total length, with houses reaching more than 1 meter in diameter. [3]

Distribution

Giant larvaceans are widespread through the planet's oceans, being found in the North and South Pacific Ocean, the North and South Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. Three species have been described, Bathochordaeus charon , B. mcnutti and B. stygius , all of them found in Monterey Bay. [3]

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Bathochordaeus charon is a species of giant larvacean, a solitary, free-swimming tunicate that filter feeds in surface waters. The species was named after Charon, the mythical Greek ferryman who carried the souls of the dead across the rivers dividing the world of the living from the world of the dead.

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Bathochordaeus mcnutti, the blue-tailed giant larvacean, is a species of larvacean in the genus Bathochordaeus within the family Oikopleuridae. It's found in the North Pacific Ocean, it is comparatively large and reaching up to 10 centimeters in length including the tail. It can be distinguished from other giant larvaceans by its bright blue tail margin.

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References

  1. Chun C. Aus den Tiefen des Weltmeeres. Jena: Gustav Fischer; 1900. pages 519–521
  2. Sherlock, R. E.; Walz, K. R.; Robison, B. H. (2016-08-30). "The first definitive record of the giant larvacean, Bathochordaeus charon, since its original description in 1900 and a range extension to the northeast Pacific Ocean". Marine Biodiversity Records. 9 (1): 79. Bibcode:2016MBdR....9...79S. doi: 10.1186/s41200-016-0075-9 . ISSN   1755-2672.
  3. 1 2 Katija, Kakani; Sherlock, Rob E.; Sherman, Alana D.; Robison, Bruce H. (16 Aug 2017). "New technology reveals the role of giant larvaceans in oceanic carbon cycling". Science Advances. 3 (8). Bibcode:2017SciA....3E2374K. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1602374. PMC   5415331 . PMID   28508058. S2CID   23179771.