Copepod

About the Copepod

The most abundant multicellular animals on Earth. They are the base of the marine food web - essentially the insects of the sea. Over 14,000 species exist. They are found from the ocean surface to the deepest trenches. Some species produce bioluminescence visible as ocean sparkling at night. Their population is estimated at 10 to the power of 18. They are the primary food source for many fish larvae. They are among the fastest animals for their size, with some species accelerating at 200 body lengths per second. They are the most important animals you have never heard of.