Pelagic tunicates in the China Seas Author Franco, P. Author Dahms, H. - U. Author Lo, W. - T. Author Hwang, J. - S. text Journal of Natural History 2017 2017-03-27 51 15 - 16 917 936 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2017.1293180 journal article 10.1080/00222933.2017.1293180 1464-5262 5180954 Thalia democratica Morphology Length of the aggregated zooids of this salp is 1.8–18.2 mm . Lengths of solitary zooids are 2.3–11.7 mm . Aggregate form is characterised by an anterior end of the body which is rounded and by a posterior end which is somewhat fusiform. Testis is never echinate, and is pentagonal. Nucleus with a posterior projection. Testis pentagonal posteriorly. Number of muscle fibres in MI–MV is15–17. Atrial opening not central, with a posterior lateral protuberance on one side only. Solitary forms with a smooth test and simple atrial palps. Lateral projections are small, medio-ventral ones are small and of unequal length and anterior projections are smallest. All test projections are echinate. MI to MIV are continuous dorsally and ventrally; MV is interrupted ventrally. MII –MIV and MV–MVI converge mid-dorsally over a short distance. Stomach extends partly into the middle posterior projection (authors’ personal observations; ( Marine Species Identification Portal 2017 ); Godeaux et al. 1998 ). Biogeography Cosmopolitan, eurythermic species from warmer waters; roughly occurring between ca. 60°N and 40°S . Also present in the Mediterranean Sea. Epipelagic, living in the upper 100 m ; does not perform diurnal vertical migration (WoRMS Editorial Board 2017 ).