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Salp

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Salp
A chain of salps near the surface in the Red Sea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Tunicata
Class: Thaliacea
Order: Salpida
Family: Salpidae
Lahille, 1888
Subfamilies, genera and species[1]

See text

Circular ring cluster of pelagic salps
Salp chain
Another salp chain

A salp is a barrel-shaped, planktic tunicate.

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 | change source]
  1. "Salpidae". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  2. 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.
  3. "Now that's a jelly fish!". Daily Mail. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  4. "Dive and Discover: Scientific Expedition 10: Antarctica". Retrieved 2008-09-03.