*salpa*

‖n.; pl. L. Salpae E. Salpas [ NL.: cf. L. salpa a kind of stockfish. ] (Zool.) A genus of transparent, tubular, free-swimming oceanic tunicates found abundantly in all the warmer latitudes. See Illustration in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Each species exists in two distinct forms, one of which lives solitary, and produces, by budding from an internal organ, a series of the other kind. These are united together, side by side, so as to form a chain, or cluster, often of large size. Each of the individuals composing the chain carries a single egg, which develops into the solitary kind. [ 1913 Webster ]