Copepods

ocean life · tiny creatures · crustaceans · everywhere

Incredibly tiny crustaceans. Copepods are small crustaceans related to crabs and shrimp, but most are barely visible without a microscope. They're some of the most abundant animals on Earth.

Live nearly everywhere. You can find copepods in oceans, lakes, rivers, swamps, caves, and even in water trapped inside rainforest plants like pitcher plants and bromeliads. They've adapted to live in almost every watery place imaginable.

Two main lifestyles. Some copepods float freely in water as plankton and drift with currents, while others live on the ocean or lake floor. A few species have even evolved to become parasites that attach to fish.

Moisture lovers everywhere. Copepods don't just need large bodies of water. They happily live in wet soil, damp moss, underground caves, and even temporary puddles that only exist during rainy seasons.

Nature's health indicator. Scientists watch copepod populations to measure water quality and biodiversity because these creatures are so sensitive to their environment.