Two New Records of Thaliacea (Chordata: Tunicata) in Korea

Two pelagic thaliacean tunicates, Pyrosoma atlanticum and Cyclosalpa quadriluminis, with bioluminescent organ, were collected from Jejudo Island and Korea Strait. In this study, the Pyrosomatida, which is holoplanktonic colonial tunicate with ascidiozooids embedded in a common test, and to which P. atlanticum belongs, is reported for the first time in Korea. The Cyclosalpa in the Salpida has a bar-shaped alimentary canal beside the branchial bar in both oozooids and blastozooids. Cyclosalpa quadriluminis is added to make Cyclosalpa species in Korea from four to five (C. affinis, C. bakeri, C. polae, C. sewelli, and C. quadriluminis). As a result of this study, 27 species of thaliaceans have been reported from Korea.