The free-swimming tunicate larva resembles a tadpole. Once it settles headfirst onto a solid surface the tail and notochord disappear, and the nerve cord shrinks to nearly nothing. The adults, which are usually sessile, retain only the pharyngeal slits. Neither adult nor larva is segmented.
-Tunicates have which of the following traits?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tunicate larvae exhibit cephalization, which is the presence of a head region where sensory organs and nerve cells are concentrated. This is evident in their free-swimming tadpole-like stage before they settle and undergo metamorphosis into sessile adults.

The Free-Swimming Tunicate Larva Resembles a Tadpole