You would be well within your rights to be taken aback by the delightfully elegant and downright odd appearance of the Stalked Tunicate. It may come as even more of a surprise to find out that not only is this "alien-like structure" an animal (and not a plant), but it is also your distant evolutionary cousin.

Stalked Tunicates belong to the same phylum as vertebrates. Though as adults they do not have a backbone, developing larvae posses a tail, a dorsal nerve cord, and a dorsal stiffening structure (not composed of bone) called the notochord. Because of this, tunicates are thought to be more closely related to vertebrates such as fish and people. They have two siphon tubes which are easily seen when the tunicate is submerged in water. The upper siphon tube (the incurrent siphon) allows the tunicate to take in seawater, extracting food and oxygen as the water passes through the creature. The lower siphon tube (the excurrent siphon) allows the spent seawater to exit the animal.

All tunicates have a long, tubular heart that is able to contract and "beat" in two opposing directions. This allows the tunicate to pump blood in one direction for about 100 beats, stop for a moment, then reverse course and begin pumping in the opposite direction. The purpose of this phenomenon is unknown and has stymied scientists for over 100 years.You can find this odd-looking creature in high-current areas all along the Oregon Coast.  

Attached to hard surfaces, the Stalked Tunicate can reach up to 12 inches in length, making it one of the largest tunicates found in intertidal waters. Though the maximum lifespan of this animal is yet to be determined, we do know that they can live for at least 3 years.  

Photo Courtesy of Tiffany Boothe, Seaside Aquarium