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Ascidian Workshop (St. John's Island Marine Laboratory, Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, from May 17, 2010 08:00 AM to May 21, 2010 05:00 PM) — by PEMSEA Webmaster

Ascidians are members of the subphylum Urochordata, a subset of the Phylum Chordata. Chordate features - notochord, nerve cord and post-anal tail - are present only in the larval stage. When the larva, or tadpole settles, it absorbs these parts and metamorphoses into a tail-less, spine-less sessile adult. Ascidians are found all over the world, usually in shallow water with salinities over 2.5%. While members of the Thaliacea and Larvacea swim freely like plankton, sea squirts are sessile animals attached to substratum such as rocks and shells.