Cyclopoida
Burmeister 1834
Taxonomy
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum | Crustacea |
| Class | Maxillopoda |
| Subclass | Copepoda |
| Order | Cyclopoida |
Distinguishing characteristics
- Antennules of a medium length.
- Thorax wider than the abdomen.
- Articulation between thoracic segments 5 and 6.
- Fifth leg is uniramous.
- Possess mandibles for biting and chewing.
Distribution
- Worldwide.
- Mainly sediment dwellers. Although, some species are planktonic temporarily and only some are truly holoplanktonic.
Ecology
- Mainly predaceous.
- Mainly feed on detritus and protists attached to sediment grains.
- Embryos are carried as paired or single sacs attached to abdominal somite.
- Larval development metamorphic.
- Some species are parasitic.