Sorberaceans: Sorberacea

Sorberaceans (soor-buh-RAY-shuns) are a small group of deep-water, bottom-dwelling sea animals related to sea squirts. Some species of sorberaceans have an egg-shaped body, and others are slightly longer than egg-shaped. The outside layer of sorberaceans is covered with short hairlike fibers and with the shells of tiny animals, sand, and mud particles sticking to the fibers. Sorberaceans are 0.1 to 2.4 inches (0.3 to 6.0 centimeters) long. Water intake and outflow openings are on opposite ends of the body and are directed away from each other. The outflow opening is very small. The intake opening is large, is on the front end or the side of the body, and is surrounded by six rounded bulges. The intake opening leads to the mouth cavity, which is lined with the same layer that covers the body. The mouth cavity leads into a small chamber lined with slits and has a few openings that lead to a system of thin-walled tubes that open into a second chamber. Some species of sorberaceans have a very large stomach, which occupies most of the inside of the animal. All species have a kidney.