Thaliacea
| Thaliacea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pyrosoma atlanticum, a pyrosome | |
 | |
| Doliolum sp., a doliolid | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Tunicata |
| Class: | Thaliacea |
Thaliacea are free-floating animals with a ton-like appearance. Thaliaceae are Tunicates. They are filter feeders and live from plankton. Their reproduction is special, there is alternation of generations: One of the generations reproduces sexually, the following does not. Some of them form colonies. There are three groups of Thaliaceans, Doliolids, Salp, and Pyrosomes. Most of the tunicates in this group like salp have a clear body shaped like a barrel which they pump water from. Most of the species in this group are microscopic or a few millimetres long.
