Did you know this!!!!

[Tripod1404]

Hello Guys,

Did you know tunicates are more closely related to vertebrates than invertebrates. So if you have any in your tank, they are more closely related to fish than coral, shrimp, snail, worm or any other invert in the tank. Actually their larval forms look strikingly similar to fish larvae. Google tunicate larvea if you are interested.

They seem to be a very early branch of proto-vertebrates that appeared 541 to 485.4 million years ago.

[HippieSmell]

The more you know *shooting star with a rainbow trailing*

[Buzz1329]

Hello Guys,

Did you know tunicates are more closely related to vertebrates than invertebrates. So if you have any in your tank, they are more closely related to fish than coral, shrimp, snail, worm or any other invert in the tank. Actually their larval forms look strikingly similar to fish larvae. Google tunicate larvea if you are interested.

They seem to be a very early branch of proto-vertebrates that appeared 541 to 485.4 million years ago.

That's amazing. Thanks.

Mike

[ntropics]

In fact, through the evolutionary process of neotany, maintaing the immature form in the adult state, the tunicate (i.e. echinoderm) larval form evolved into the Hemichordates, then the Chordates, or animals with backbones.

Echinoderms, Hemichordates and Chordates together form the Deuterostomes, which are separate from the Protostomes, which included all insects, worms, sponges, and the like. When I learned this in zoology class it was a WOW moment: our closest invertebrate relative is the Echinoderm! It's important to note that Echinoderms are really NOT radially symmetrical. Take a close look at a sand dollar for example. It's really bilaterally symmetrical. So it was not a great evolutionary leap to go to cartalagenous fish as you might at first think.

Looking at the picture, it's pretty easy to see how a tunicate larva looks just like a fishlike animal.

Bruce

[ThRoewer]

Yes, old news to me.