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.
-Neither adult nor larva is segmented.Tunicates go through which type of development?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tunicates undergo indirect development, which involves a larval stage that is morphologically distinct from the adult form. The free-swimming larva eventually metamorphoses into a sessile adult, indicating a significant transformation from the larval to the adult stage.

The Free-Swimming Tunicate Larva Resembles a Tadpole