A division of Tunicata comprising the free-swimming species, such as Salpa and Doliolum.

small class of free-swimming tunicates; sometimes classified as an order

The Thalicea comprise a class of marine animals within the subphylum Urochordata. Unlike their bottom-dwelling relatives the ascidians, thaliaceans are free-floating for their entire lifespan. There are three orders of Thaliacea: Pyrosomida, Doliolida, and Salpia.