tunicate

[ too-ni-kit, -keyt, tyoo- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Zoology. any sessile marine chordate of the subphylum Tunicata (Urochordata), having a saclike body enclosed in a thick membrane or tunic and two openings or siphons for the ingress and egress of water.

tunicate

/ -ˌkeɪt; ˈtjuːnɪkɪt /

any minute primitive marine chordate animal of the subphylum Tunicata (or Urochordata, Urochorda ). The adults have a saclike unsegmented body enclosed in a cellulose-like outer covering (tunic) and only the larval forms have a notochord: includes the sea squirts See also ascidian

tunicate

/ to̅o̅′nĭ-kĭt /

Any of various primitive marine chordate animals of the subphylum Tunicata, having a rounded or cylindrical body that is enclosed in a tough outer covering. Tunicates start out life as free-swimming, tadpolelike animals with a notochord (a primitive backbone), but many, such as the sea squirts, lose the notochord and most of their nervous system as adults and become fixed to rocks or other objects. Tunicates often form colonies.

First recorded in 1615–25, tunicate is from the Latin word tunicātus wearing a tunic. See tunic, -ate ¹

C18: from Latin tunicātus clad in a tunic

We have found chemicals in Antarctic sponges and tunicates and some algae, that have garnered attention as potential drugs.

Compare the life-history of the lamprey and of the tunicate.

The word tunicate in the above table is used for the136 plants which Albertus describes as growing ex ligneis tunicis.

In the open channel of a sponge, the mouth of a tunicate and in similar cavities of various animals, little fishes may be found.

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