| Bathocordaeus stygius | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Range | East coast of Australia in the pelagic zone |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Larvacea (Aka: Appendicularia) |
| Order | Copelata |
| Family | Oikopleuridae |
| Genus | Bathocordaeus |
| Species | B. stygius |
Bathochordaeus Stygius is a species of Larvacean, it looks beautiful, but what you are actually looking at is a transluscent balloon like body filled to the brim with green snot, along with this, it is one of the largest larvaceans and is one of three species of the genus. It's curved body is often referred to as croissant like, due to it's equal curves and jagged lines beneath the balloon sac. The balloon body is mucus that has been secreted due to the fact that despite it being a tunicate, it doesn't have a true tunicate like body. It has an inner filter that pulls particles into its mouth, once the mucus balloon is filled to the brim with debris and snot, it will replace it with a new, and larger one. The typical tadpole shape of larvaceans is still present, it is just not able to be seen due to the debris covering it. The balloon can almost be referred similar to a tortoise' shell, because it acts like a portable in built house. The tadpole like creature only grows to 10cm, and uses it's tail to push it and it's balloon through the ocean.