Sea Sapphire, A Copepod
by Danté Fenolio
Title
Sea Sapphire, A Copepod
Artist
Danté Fenolio
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Sea Sapphires are crustaceans; they are copepods in the family Sapphirinidae. Some species may be parasitic. The males are stunning with their prismatic show of colors. This color depends on the thickness of their shell and is species specific. Some deep water species are mainly blue and aqua. Shallower living species typically have hot colors (reds, yellows, oranges) in their prismatic display when viewed from above but more cold colors (blues, violets) when viewed from below. The colors flash at particular angles and then vanish from sight at others. The disappearing and reappearing colors may aid in predator evasion. This specimen was trawled from the Florida Straits from between 200 meters depth and the surface, 2016.
Uploaded
January 24th, 2017
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