Tenguella
Tenguella is a genus of small, planktonic, marine copepods belonging to the family Oncaeidae. These copepods are important members of the zooplankton community, serving as food for a variety of fish and other marine organisms.
Common Names
There are no widely recognized common names for Tenguella species.
Characteristics
Tenguella species are characterized by their small size, typically less than 1 millimeter in length. They have a distinctive body shape, with a large cephalothorax (head and thorax fused) and a segmented abdomen. They possess two pairs of antennae, which they use for swimming and sensing their surroundings, as well as a pair of mandibles for feeding. Tenguella species are also notable for their large, prominent eyes.
Environments
Tenguella copepods are found in a wide range of marine environments, from coastal waters to the open ocean. They are particularly abundant in warm, tropical waters. Their distribution is influenced by factors such as water temperature, salinity, and food availability.