Sal·pa n.; pl. L. Salpae E. Salpas Zool. A genus of transparent, tubular, free-swimming oceanic tunicates found abundantly in all the warmer latitudes. See Illustration in Appendix.
Note: ☞ Each species exists in two distinct forms, one of which lives solitary, and produces, by budding from an internal organ, a series of the other kind. These are united together, side by side, so as to form a chain, or cluster, often of large size. Each of the individuals composing the chain carries a single egg, which develops into the solitary kind.
◄ ►
salpa
n : minute floating marine tunicate having a transparent body
with an opening at each end [syn: salp]
[also: salpae (pl)]