Fritillaria spp.

Taxon-Order: 
Appendicularia (or Larvacea)

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Distribution: 
Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Oceans. Red and Mediterranean Seas.
Habitat: 
Epipelagic.
Diet: 
Phytoplankton and other small particles.
Useful Facts or Characters: 

Genus Fritillaria: body consists of a short trunk and tail.  Mouth with lobes.  Tail wide and sharpened towards the distal end.

Several species have been reported from the coast of California.

Natural History: 

They secrete mucous-filtering structures called houses, which are used to trap small particles. They are filter feeders and simultaneous hermaphrodites.  

References: 

Fenaux, R., and S. Dallot (1980) Répartition des Appendiculaires au large des côtes de Californie. Journal of Plankton Research 2: 145-167.