News

Researchers from the University of Texas in Austin have been studying the Pontellid copepod in order to determine how it is able to survive in plain sight of predatory fish. This particular type of copepod, at 3mm in length, is one of the largest and lives just below the surface of the water where they can easily be seen by fish.

New research shows that they are able to leap out of the water, travelling up to 20 times their own body length, and escaping predatory fish.
Most species of copepods will spend their days deeper below the surface where sunlight won’t make their presence so obvious. Researchers are suggesting that the Pontellid copepods are specially evolved to survive closer to the surface.

One theory is that the body of the Pontellid copepod is more resistant to water than other species. A second theory is that these copepods inject chemicals in order to reduce the surface tension of the water.

Read more in the BBC article.