Herdmania

Herdmania
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Tunicata
Class:	Ascidiacea
Order:	Stolidobranchia
Family:	Pyuridae
Genus:	Herdmania; , 1888
Species
	See text

Herdmania is a genus of ascidian tunicates in the family Pyuridae.

Species within the genus Herdmania include:^[1]

Monniot & Monniot, 2001
Monniot & Monniot, 2003
Monniot, 2002
Kott, 2002
(Heller, 1878)
(Van Name, 1918)
Monniot & Monniot, 2001
(Hartmeyer, 1909)
Nishikawa, 2002
(Drasche, 1884)
Kott, 2002
(Drasche, 1884)
Herdmania momus (Savigny, 1816)
(Heller, 1878)
(Monniot & Monniot, 1991)
(Monniot & Monniot, 1989)
Nishikawa, 2002

Species names currently considered to be synonyms:

Herdmania bostrichobranchus Metcalf, 1900: synonym of (Verrill, 1871)
Herdmania claviformis Ritter, 1903: synonym of (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 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[]

^ 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.

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[1] 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.

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