Salp
| Salp | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A chain of salps near the surface in the Red Sea | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Tunicata |
| Class: | Thaliacea |
| Order: | Salpida |
| Family: | Salpidae Lahille, 1888 |
| Subfamilies, genera and species | |
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See text | |
Salp chain off Zanzibar
Another salp chain off Oregon
A salp (pl.: salps) or salpa (pl.: salpae or salpas) is a barrel-shaped, planktonic tunicate in the family Salpidae. The salp moves by contracting its gelatinous body in order to pump water through it; it is one of the most efficient examples of jet propulsion in the animal kingdom. The salp feeds on phytoplankton, which it collects by straining water through its internal feeding filters.