Summary
Using appropriate techniques, we have studied in detail the structure and functions of the house of the appendicularian Oikopleura dioica Fol, 1872. In particular, we describe the structure of the inlet funnel, the reinforcing chamber on each side of the tail chamber and its function, the role and the structure of the valves located between the dorsal and water exit chambers and the structure and the role of the exit sphincter. In conclusion, we show that in addition to filtration of particles, movement of the tail also helps location of a favorable particulate environment in the sea.
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Fenaux, R. The house of Oikopleura dioica (Tunicata, Appendicularia): Structure and functions. Zoomorphology 106, 224–231 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312043
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312043