ascidians(名词复数):海鞘类动物,又称被囊动物(tunicates)的一个常见类群,多为海洋固着生活的滤食性无脊椎动物,外层有“被囊”包裹。常见于潮间带和浅海。(单数:ascidian)
/əˈsɪdiənz/
Ascidians live attached to rocks in shallow seas.
海鞘常附着在浅海的岩石上生活。
Although ascidians look simple as adults, their larvae have a notochord, which links them to chordates.
虽然海鞘成体看起来结构简单,但其幼体具有脊索,这使它们与脊索动物有关联。
词源来自希腊语 askidion,意为“小皮囊 / 小酒囊”,指其外形像囊状的袋子;该形象特征也体现在中文常译“海鞘”(像海里的小鞘/囊)。