Evolution & Systematics

Phallusia is a genus of the class Ascidiacea, part of the subphylum Tunicata (Urochordates) and phylum Chordata (Kott 1985).

Characteristics:

Phylum Chordata: Notochord, Hollow nerve cord, Pharyngeal slits, Endostyle and a post-anal tail.

Subphylum Tunicata: Perforated pharynx, dorsal neural ganglion, hollow dorsal nerve cord, no true coelom, open blood system and notochord-like supporting cells (Kott 1985).