Thaliacea

Thaliacea
Pyrosoma atlanticum, a pyrosome
Doliolum sp., a doliolid
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Tunicata
Class:	Thaliacea Nielsen, 1995
Orders
Pyrosomida Salpida Doliolida

Thaliacea is a class of marine animals within the subphylum Tunicata, comprising the salps, pyrosomes and doliolids. Unlike their benthic relatives the ascidians, from which they are believed to have emerged, thaliaceans are free-floating (pelagic) for their entire lifespan. The group includes species with complex life cycles, with both solitary and colonial forms.