| Herdmania | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Herdmania grandis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Tunicata |
| Class: | Ascidiacea |
| Order: | Stolidobranchia |
| Family: | Pyuridae |
| Genus: | Herdmania Lahille, 1888 |
| Species | |
See text | |
Herdmania is a genus of ascidian tunicates in the family Pyuridae.
Species within the genus Herdmania include: [1]
Species names currently considered to be synonyms:
Herdmania is a sedentary filter feeding tunicate found in marine habitats. The animal often occurs in gregorious form.
The body flat purse like structure with length of 6-13 cms. Breadth is 4-7 cms. Colour is brownish. The animal is pretty buried in sand by means of foot. The body proper has two projections-atrial and branchial siphons. Branchial siphon has a branchial or incurrent aperture or mouth. The atrial siphon has atrial or excurrent aperture or cloaca. Each aperture is surrounded by four lobes or lips. The whole body is covered by thick leathery and translucent Tunic or test. The same is wrinkled. It is formed of cellulose like organic substances known as tunicin.
Herdmania is filter or ciliary feeder. Digestive tract is complete. Liver and pyloric glands are present. Respiration is with the help of branchial sac. Water enters the body from the region of mouth or branchial aperture, passes through the pharynx where food is picked up. It comes out through atrial aperture. The current is maintained by cilia lining the gill slits. Water current also helps in gaseous exchange.
When disturbed, Herdmania emits a jet of water through both of its apertures. The animal is hermaphrodite. Cross fertilisation occurs which is external. Larval stage or tadpole undergoes retrogressive metamorphosis to become an adult.
Ascidia is a genus of tunicates in the family Ascidiidae.
Pyura is a large genus of sessile ascidians that live in coastal waters at depths of up to 80 m (260 feet). Like all ascidians, Pyura are filter feeders. A few species, including Pyura chilensis are commercially fished.
Ciona is a genus of sea squirts in the family Cionidae.
Didemnum is a genus of colonial tunicates in the family Didemnidae. It is the most speciose genus in the didemnid family. Species in this genus often have small calcareous spicules embedded in the tunic and form irregular or lobed colonies. Some Didemnum species, including Didemnum vexillum and Didemnum perlucidem are considered invasive species. In early 2006, Didemnum vexillum was found covering a 230 km2 area of cobble habitat in Georges Bank off the coast of New England, and is classified as an invasive species of greatest concern in coastal areas throughout Europe, New Zealand, and North America. Didemnum sp. invasions have also been recorded in Canada, the Mediterranean, and the Netherlands.
Botrylloides is a genus of ascidian tunicates in the family Styelidae.
Styela is a genus of tunicates. Styela clava, an edible species, is known as an invasive species in some areas.
Molgula, or sea grapes, are very common, globular, individual marine tunicates roughly the size of grapes.
Phlebobranchia is an order of sea squirts in the class Ascidiacea, first described by Fernando Lahille in 1886.
Halocynthia is a genus of ascidian tunicates in the family Pyuridae. Species such as H. roretzi are eaten in parts of Asia as a delicacy.
Stolidobranchia is an order of tunicates in the class Ascidiacea. The group includes both colonial and solitary animals. They are distinguished from other tunicates by the presence of folded pharyngeal baskets. This provides the etymology of their name: in ancient Greek, στολίς, ίδος means the "fold" of a cloth. Stolidobranchian sea squirts are also characterized by the complete absence of an abdomen. The abdominal organs of other tunicates are instead located to one side of the pharyngeal basket in this group.
Aplousobranchia is an order of sea squirts in the class Ascidiacea, first described by Fernando Lahille in 1886. They are colonial animals, and are distinguished from other sea squirts by the presence of relatively simple pharyngeal baskets. This provides the etymology of their name: in ancient greek, ἁ.πλοος-ους (ha.ploos-ous) means "simple". The posterior part of the abdomen contains the heart and gonads, and is typically larger than in other sea squirts.
Aplidium is a genus of colonial sea squirts, tunicates in the family Polyclinidae. There are about 188 species in the genus found in shallow waters around the world.
Phallusia nigra is a solitary marine tunicate of the ascidian class found in tropical seas around the world. It usually lives in shallow waters, attached to any hard substrate.
Polycarpa is a genus of ascidian tunicates in the family Styelidae.
Molgulidae is a family of tunicates in the class Ascidiacea. Following a revision in 2007, the family Hexacrobylidae was synonymized with Molgulidae.
Polyclinum is a genus of colonial sea squirts, tunicates in the family Polyclinidae.
Eugyra are marine tunicates.
Cnemidocarpa is a genus of ascidian tunicates in the family Styelidae.
Trididemnum is a genus of tunicates belonging to the family Didemnidae.
Diplosoma is a genus of tunicates belonging to the family Didemnidae.
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