? Thaliacea | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||
| ||||||||
| Orders | ||||||||
The Thalicea comprise a class of marine animals within the subphylum Urochordata. Unlike their bottom-dwelling relatives the ascidians, thaliaceans are free-floating for their entire lifespan. Thaliaceans of the order Pyrosomida are colonial, living in groups that can be over a meter long. Those of the order Doliolida live singly, Salpida live singly or form loosely connected "chains". All of the thaliceans are filter feeders. They have a barrel-shaped body through which they pump water, propelling them through the sea and from which they extract food.