Halityle
Halityle is a genus of marine copepods in the family Corycaeidae. These copepods are commonly known as “sea fleas” or “water fleas,” and are a significant part of the zooplankton in marine ecosystems.
Characteristics
Halityle species are small, typically less than 1 millimeter in length, and have a transparent, segmented body. They possess a distinctive pear-shaped carapace and a pair of long, segmented antennae. These antennae are used for swimming and sensing the environment.
Like other copepods, Halityle are filter feeders, using their antennae to capture small food particles such as phytoplankton and bacteria. They are also known for their rapid swimming abilities, which allow them to escape predators and migrate vertically in the water column.
Environment
Halityle species are found in a wide range of marine environments, from coastal waters to the open ocean. They are particularly abundant in regions with high phytoplankton productivity, where they play an important role in the marine food web.