''Calanoides acutus'' is a

copepod Copepods (; meaning 'oar-feet') are a group of small crustaceans found in nearly every freshwater and saltwater habitat (ecology), habitat. Some species are planktonic (living in the water column), some are benthos, benthic (living on the sedimen ...

found in Antarctica and the surrounding waters.

Description

The female ranges from about , and the male has an average length of about .

Distribution

''Calanoides acutus'' is found in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters, from sea level to in depth.

Ecology

Life history and reproduction

While ''C. acutus'' is only confirmed to breed from November to March, it likely starts breeding in early October, as a study observed females without eggs and late-stage nauplii presumably belonging to this copepod in mid-November. Stage I through III copepodites are generally found from sea level to of depth. Older stages, on the other hand, are found in the top during the summer, except during December, when they are found in the top . ''C. acutus'' starts to descend in February, although this is affected by the food supply, with individuals in the northern portion of the range, like in

Drake Passage The Drake Passage is the body of water between South America's Cape Horn, Chile, Argentina, and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. It connects the southwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean (Scotia Sea) with the southeastern part of the Pa ...

, only starting to winter during mid-March. Individuals, mainly stage IV and V copepodites, winter to between about . There is no evidence of diel vertical migration in this species.

References

{{Authority control Calanoida Crustaceans of the Southern Ocean Crustaceans described in 1902