Salp
family of tunicates
A salp is a barrel-shaped, planktic tunicate.
| Salp | |
|---|---|
| |
| A chain of salps near the surface in the Red Sea | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Tunicata |
| Class: | Thaliacea |
| Order: | Salpida |
| Family: | Salpidae Lahille, 1888 |
| Subfamilies, genera and species[1] | |
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See text | |
Salp chain
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Another salp chain
Salps moves by contracting. This pumps water through their gelatinous bodies. It is one of the most efficient examples of jet propulsion in the animal kingdom.[2]
The salp pumps water through its internal feeding filters and feeds on phytoplankton.
Salps are common in all seas. The most salps are in the Southern Ocean (near Antarctica),[3] where they may form enormous swarms, often in deep water. They are sometimes even more abundant than krill.[4]
Although salps look similar to jellyfish with their simple body form and behaviour, in fact they are chordates. This means they are animals with a dorsal nerve cord. They are related to vertebrates, animals with backbones.
References change
- ↑ "Salpidae". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ↑ Bone, Q. (1983). "Jet propulsion in salps (Tunicata: Thaliacea)". Journal of Zoology. 201 (4): 481–506. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1983.tb05071.x.
- ↑ "Now that's a jelly fish!". Daily Mail. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
- ↑ "Dive and Discover: Scientific Expedition 10: Antarctica". Retrieved 2008-09-03.