Salp

family of tunicates From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Salp
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A salp is a barrel-shaped, planktic tunicate.

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Circular ring cluster of pelagic salps
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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.

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