How Do Copepods Move?
Identification Copepods are tiny crustaceans. They belong to the same family as crabs, lobsters and shrimp. According to the University of California Museum of Paleontology, there are about 9,000 species and they range in size from .5 to 15 mm in length. Copepods are an important link in the food chain. They supply many aquatic animals with protein. They are eaten by fish and whales. Many copepods are parasites. Several copepods feed on microscopic algae. Copepods are so abundant that their habitat is worldwide. They can live in fresh water or salt water. They are found in high mountain habitats and deep oceanic trenches. The can live in polar ice water and hot thermal vents. They can live inside other animals or they can swim freely in their aquatic environment. Their eggs can stay viable in shallow ponds for 300 years. Physical Makeup Copepods are usually transparent and colorless. There are species that have some pigments that give them a reddish or bluish color. They have tiny, elo
