Pacific copepod [Labidocera rotunda]
Description
Labidocera rotunda, or the Pacific copepod, inhabits the warm, tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean. The species is characterized by a round body and long, pointed rostrum. It consumes phytoplankton and serves as an essential link in the marine food chain, providing nourishment for larger marine organisms. The females of this species are larger and have a more rounded body shape than the males.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Arthropods
Arthropoda
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Copepods
Copepoda
|
| Order |
Calanoida
Calanoida
|
| Family |
Arietellidae
Arietellidae
|
| Genus |
Labidocera
Labidocera
|