• Norwegian: hoppekreps

Characteristics:

Copepods typically have a teardrop-shaped body, with a size ranging from 0.5 to 2 mm. A few polar species may reach a length of 15 mm. Many species have a single eye positioned on the front of the head. They possesses two pair of antennae, the first pair is usually the longest. The tale is usually narrower than the body itself.

Taxonomy:

The Copepoda subclass includes more than 9000 species of crustaceans. Most of them are simply too small to be photographed with common camera equipment in their natural environment. Many of the copepods are parasites, but many free-swimming species play a vital role in the food chain of the world oceans. The Calanidae family include several species that are crucial for many important fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean.