Salps (Salpa fusiformis) are fascinating marine organisms found throughout the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. These transparent, gelatinous creatures, often described as “jelly balls” or “buckets of snot,” are a common sight in the ocean depths. With over 70 species worldwide, Salpa fusiformis is the most prevalent, inhabiting depths ranging from the surface to around 2,600 feet (800 meters).
These barrel-shaped creatures, ranging in size from 0.08 inches (0.2 centimeters) at birth to 4 inches (10 cm) in adulthood, are unique in their ability to form long chains that drift with the tides. They propel themselves through the water using a form of jet propulsion, pumping seawater through their bodies with muscle bands and expelling it from their rear end. This method of locomotion classifies them as “sea squirts.”
Unlike jellyfish, salps lack stinging cells. Their primary food source is phytoplankton, which they filter through internal nets of sticky mucus. This ability to filter massive volumes of water makes them crucial players in combating climate change. A single swarm of salps covering 38,000 square miles (100,000 square kilometers) can capture up to 4,000 tons of CO2 in a single night!
Salps have a peculiar two-phase life cycle, alternating between an asexual oozoid phase and a sexual blastozooid phase. The asexual oozoid produces long chains of clones, which develop into sexually reproducing blastozooids. These chains initially consist of females, each producing eggs fertilized by nearby male blastozooids. The eggs develop internally, resulting in live births. The young salps then mature into asexual oozoids, completing the cycle. Eventually, the entire chain transitions to males, releasing sperm to fertilize the eggs of neighboring female blastozooids.
These remarkable creatures have incredibly fast life cycles, reaching maturity in just 48 hours. They are believed to be the fastest-growing multicellular animals on Earth, increasing their body length by up to 10% per hour. Their rapid growth and ability to filter vast amounts of water make them a vital component of the ocean’s ecosystem, particularly in the fight against climate change.
