''Herdmania'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
ascidian
Ascidiacea, commonly known as the ascidians or sea squirts, is a paraphyletic class in the subphylum Tunicata of sac-like marine invertebrate filter feeders. Ascidians are characterized by a tough outer test or "tunic" made of the polysaccharid ...
tunicate
Tunicates are marine invertebrates belonging to the subphylum Tunicata ( ). This grouping is part of the Chordata, a phylum which includes all animals with dorsal nerve cords and notochords (including vertebrates). The subphylum was at one time ...
s in the
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
Pyuridae
Pyuridae is a family of tunicates.Gittenberger, A.; Sanamyan, K. (2015)Pyuridae.In: Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Lambert, G.; Rius, M.; Moreira Da Rocha, R.; Swalla, B.J.; Turon, X. (2015) Ascidiacea World Database. Accessed through: World Regi ...
.
Species
Species within the genus ''Herdmania'' include:
[Sanamyan, K. (2015)]
''Herdmania'' Lahille, 1888 .
In: Shenkar, N.; Gittenberger, A.; Lambert, G.; Rius, M.; Moreira Da Rocha, R.; Swalla, B.J.; Turon, X. (2015) Ascidiacea World Database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2015-12-29.
* ''
Herdmania armata''
Monniot & Monniot, 2001
* ''
Herdmania colona''
Monniot & Monniot, 2003
* ''
Herdmania coutieri''
Monniot, 2002
* ''
Herdmania fimbriae''
Kott, 2002
* ''
Herdmania grandis''
(Heller, 1878)
* ''
Herdmania inflata''
(Van Name, 1918)
* ''
Herdmania insolita''
Monniot & Monniot, 2001
* ''
Herdmania japonica''
(Hartmeyer, 1909)
* ''
Herdmania kiiensis''
Nishikawa, 2002
* ''
Herdmania mauritiana''
(Drasche, 1884)
* ''
Herdmania mentula''
Kott, 2002
* ''
Herdmania mirabilis''
(Drasche, 1884)
* ''
Herdmania momus''
(Savigny, 1816)
* ''
Herdmania pallida''
(Heller, 1878)
* ''
Herdmania pennata''
(Monniot & Monniot, 1991)
* ''
Herdmania polyducta''
(Monniot & Monniot, 1989)
* ''
Herdmania subpallida''
Nishikawa, 2002
Species names currently considered to be synonyms:
* ''Herdmania bostrichobranchus''
Metcalf, 1900: synonym of ''
Bostrichobranchus pilularis
''Bostrichobranchus'' is a genus of ascidian tunicates in the family Molgulidae
Molgulidae is a family of tunicates in the class Ascidiacea. Following a revision in 2007, the family Hexacrobylidae was synonymized with Molgulidae.
Genera
The ...
''
(Verrill, 1871)
* ''Herdmania claviformis''
Ritter, 1903: synonym of ''
Euherdmania claviformis
''Euherdmannia'' is a genus of tunicates. It is the only genus in the family Euherdmaniidae in the order Aplousobranchia.
Species
Species accepted by WoRMS as of May 2023:
*''Euherdmania areolata
''Euherdmannia'' is a genus of tunicates. It ...
''
(Ritter, 1903)
* ''Herdmania contorta''
Monniot, 1992: synonym of ''
Herdmania momus''
(Savigny, 1816)
* ''Herdmania curvata''
Kott, 1952: synonym of ''
Herdmania momus''
(Savigny, 1816)
* ''Herdmania vasculosa''
(Herdman, 1888): synonym of ''
Ascidia bathybia''
Hartmeyer, 1922
Habitat
''Herdmania'' is a sedentary filter feeding tunicate found in marine habitats. The animal often occurs in gregorious form.
Characters
The body flat purse like structure with length of 6-13 cms. Breadth is 4-7 cms. Colour is brownish. The animal is pretty buried in sand by means of foot. The body proper has two projections-atrial and branchial siphons. Branchial siphon has a branchial or incurrent aperture or mouth. The atrial siphon has atrial or excurrent aperture or cloaca. Each aperture is surrounded by four lobes or lips. The whole body is covered by thick leathery and translucent Tunic or test. The same is wrinkled. It is formed of cellulose like organic substances known as tunicin.
''Herdmania'' is filter or ciliary feeder. Digestive tract is complete. Liver and pyloric glands are present. Respiration is with the help of branchial sac. Water enters the body from the region of mouth or branchial aperture, passes through the pharynx where food is picked up. It comes out through atrial aperture. The current is maintained by cilia lining the gill slits. Water current also helps in gaseous exchange.
Reproduction
When disturbed, ''Herdmania'' emits a jet of water through both of its apertures. The animal is hermaphrodite. Cross fertilisation occurs which is external. Larval stage or tadpole undergoes retrogressive metamorphosis to become an adult.
References
Pyuridae
Tunicate genera
Taxa named by Fernando Lahille
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