Pyrosoma

Pyrosoma is a genus of pyrosomes, marine colonial tunicates in the class Thaliacea.^[1][2] It contains four pelagic species found in temperate waters worldwide. Pyrosomes are filter feeders that uniquely use a type of continuous jet propulsion, generated by individual zooids, to slowly move forward while grazing; the species P. atlanticum has the highest known food clearance rate among zooplankton grazers. Colonies can reach lengths of up to 20 m (66 ft).^[3]

Pyrosoma
Pyrosoma atlanticum
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Tunicata
Class:	Thaliacea
Order:	Pyrosomatida
Family:	Pyrosomatidae
Subfamily:	Pyrosomatinae
Genus:	Pyrosoma Péron, 1804 [1]
Synonyms[1]
Dipleurosoma Brooks, 1906

Species

The genus contains four recognized species:^[1]

• Pyrosoma aherniosum Seeliger, 1895
• Pyrosoma atlanticum Péron, 1804
• Pyrosoma godeauxi van Soest, 1981
• Pyrosoma ovatum Neumann, 1909