The ancestors of this interesting creature were the first chordates to inhabit the Earth, and eventually gave rise to all higher animals, including vertebrates (like us).  On the phylogenic tree of life, this creature is evolutionarily higher than snails, octopi, crabs and lobsters.

Specimen collected during the 1996/1997 research cruises to the coastal waters of Barbados.

Microscope-mounted Nikon camera, Kodakchrome film.