Non-Vertebrate Chordates in Zoos/Aquariums

[CarnotaurusSastrei]

Obviously, the vast majority of zoos and aquariums house at least one species of vertebrate, but I was curious about if any institutions housed taxa from the other two major clades within Chordata: Cephalochordata (lancelets) and Tunicata (tunicates, sea squirts, salps, pyrosomes, etc.).

 

[Local_Shark]

Obviously, the vast majority of zoos and aquariums house at least one species of vertebrate, but I was curious about if any institutions housed taxa from the other two major clades within Chordata: Cephalochordata (lancelets) and Tunicata (tunicates, sea squirts, salps, pyrosomes, etc.).

A lot of aquariums here in Cali have some of our local tide pool non-vertebrate chordates. I've definitely seen sea squirts or tunicates at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Roundhouse Aquarium, Heal the Bay Aquarium, etc., at some point. Maybe even California Science Center or Aquarium of the Pacific as well now that I think about it.

 

[CMTM]

I know of several colleagues at facilities that use natural seawater who actually consider tunicates a bit of a pest because they can foul up plumbing and life support systems.

 

[Local_Shark]

I know of several colleagues at facilities that use natural seawater who actually consider tunicates a bit of a pest because they can foul up plumbing and life support systems.

Lol I've heard the same thing from folks at marine labs. I'll have to ask someone the next time I'm at one of the aquariums that's had them on display.

 

[Toki]

There's a lot of Tunicatas in aquariums in Japan.

Also a afew places that had Lancelets, but I'm not sure if they still have them.
Here's an article about a past exhibit:
ナメクジウオその他が入館しました | 鳥羽水族館　飼育日記