Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of marine invertebrate animal: A "sea squirt" is a simple, sac-like marine animal (an ascidian) that lives attached to surfaces like rocks or boat hulls. It feeds by filtering water through its body.
   • Named for its defensive behavior: When disturbed, it can contract its body and forcefully eject streams of water, which is the origin of its common name.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • We found a colorful sea squirt clinging to the dock piling.
  • The biology student studied the unique feeding system of the sea squirt.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific classification: In academic texts, "sea squirt" is often used interchangeably with "ascidian," referring to animals in the class Ascidiacea.
  • The sea squirt, or ascidian, exhibits a remarkable life cycle, with a free-swimming larval stage.

Variants and Related Words

• Ascidian (n): The formal biological term for a sea squirt.
  • Ascidians are found in oceans all over the world.

Synonyms

• Tunicate: Another scientific term for sea squirts and their relatives, referring to their tough outer "tunic."
• Ascidian: The direct taxonomic synonym.

Noun

1. ascidian that can contract its body and eject streams of water