Ascidiaceae

Ascidiaceae is a family of marine animals known as ascidians or sea squirts. These are soft-bodied, filter-feeding creatures that live attached to rocks, boat hulls, or other underwater surfaces. Despite their simple appearance, they are chordates, meaning they are related to vertebrates like us, especially during early development. Ascidians draw in water through a siphon, filter out plankton and nutrients for food, and then expel the filtered water. They play important roles in ocean ecosystems by filtering water and providing habitat for other marine life.