Perophoridae
Perophoridae is a family of colonial tunicates in the order Aplousobranchia. They are commonly known as sea squirts or tunicates. Perophoridae are characterized by their small size, translucent bodies, and colonial lifestyle. They are found in a variety of marine habitats worldwide, from shallow intertidal zones to deep-sea environments.
Characteristics
Members of the Perophoridae family exhibit several distinctive characteristics:
- Colonial: Perophoridae are colonial organisms, meaning they live in groups of interconnected individuals called zooids.
- Small Size: Zooids are typically small, measuring only a few millimeters in length.
- Translucent Bodies: The bodies of Perophoridae are often translucent, allowing for easy observation of their internal organs.
- Siphon Arrangement: Each zooid has two siphons: an incurrent siphon that draws in water and an excurrent siphon that expels water.
- Filter Feeders: Perophoridae are filter feeders, extracting food particles from the water column through their siphons.
Environments
Perophoridae can be found in a variety of marine environments, including:
- Intertidal Zones: Some species of Perophoridae live in shallow intertidal areas, attached to rocks, seaweed, or other substrates.
- Subtidal Zones: Other species inhabit subtidal zones, living on seafloors at depths beyond the reach of the tides.
- Deep Sea: Some Perophoridae species have adapted to deep-sea environments, where they thrive in the absence of sunlight.
References
World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS)
A Comprehensive Phylogeny of the Class Ascidiacea (Tunicata): A Framework for Understanding Their Evolution