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Tunicates of Zihuatanejo

SUBPHYLUM​ TUNICATA

Salps

Pegea (Genus)

Salps of the genus Pegea are pelagic, gelatinous tunicates commonly found in open-ocean waters. Pegea salps have a barrel-shaped, transparent, gelatinous body, typically a few centimetres long. The tunic is firm yet flexible. The body is nearly invisible in seawater, with internal organs clearly visible. They are highly efficient filter feeders, capable of consuming very small plankton, including picoplankton. Unlike jellyfish, salps lack nematocysts and cannot sting.

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