The Thalicea (also known as salps) comprise a class of marine animals within the subphylum Urochordata. Unlike their bottom-dwelling relatives the ascidians, thaliaceans are free-floating for their entire lifespan. Thaliaceans of the order Pyrosomida are colonial, living in groups that can be over a meter long. Those of the order Doliolida live singly, Salpida live singly or form loosely connected "chains". All of the thaliceans are filter feeders. They have a barrel-shaped body through which they pump water, propelling them through the sea and from which they extract food.
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