| Bathochordaeus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Bathochordaeus charon (A to C) and B. stygius (E to F) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Tunicata |
| Class: | Appendicularia |
| Order: | Copelata |
| Family: | Oikopleuridae |
| Subfamily: | Bathochordaeinae |
| Genus: | Bathochordaeus Chun, 1900[1] |
| Species | |
| |
Bathochordaeus, the giant larvaceans, is a genus of larvacean tunicates in the family Oikopleuridae.
They are much larger than other genera of larvaceans, ranging from 3 to 10 centimeters in total length, with houses reaching more than 1 meter in diameter.[2]
Giant larvaceans are widespread through the planet's oceans, being found in the North and South Pacific Ocean, the North and South Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. Three species have been described, Bathochordaeus charon, B. mcnutti and B. stygius, all of them found in Monterey Bay.[2]
