South Sandwich Islands

Source: TOI

Context: A rare video captured near South Sandwich Islands shows pig-tailed parasites (copepods Lophoura szidati) clinging to a deep-sea rattail fish, intriguing scientists about deep-sea parasitic biodiversity.

About Copepods:

• What are Copepods? Copepods are tiny aquatic crustaceans forming one of the most abundant multicellular groups in both marine and freshwater ecosystems. They are crucial links in aquatic food webs, connecting phytoplankton to fish, whales, and other predators.

• Copepods are tiny aquatic crustaceans forming one of the most abundant multicellular groups in both marine and freshwater ecosystems.

• They are crucial links in aquatic food webs, connecting phytoplankton to fish, whales, and other predators.

• Habitat: Found from polar ice caps to hydrothermal vents and deep ocean trenches. Live in freshwater, saltwater, underground caves, leaf litter, and moist soil.

• Found from polar ice caps to hydrothermal vents and deep ocean trenches.

• Live in freshwater, saltwater, underground caves, leaf litter, and moist soil.

• Characteristics

• Physical: Size: Usually 1–2 mm; parasitic species can grow up to 20 cm. Appearance: Transparent, teardrop-shaped body, long antennae, and a single red eye.

• Size: Usually 1–2 mm; parasitic species can grow up to 20 cm.

• Appearance: Transparent, teardrop-shaped body, long antennae, and a single red eye.

• Biological: No heart or blood vessels (except in Calanoida order). Breathe by absorbing oxygen through the body surface. Some species glow (bioluminescence) to escape predators.

• No heart or blood vessels (except in Calanoida order).

• Breathe by absorbing oxygen through the body surface.

• Some species glow (bioluminescence) to escape predators.

• Behavioural: Move by using oar-like antennae, can make quick “jumps” to avoid threats. Use pheromone trails to find mates.

• Move by using oar-like antennae, can make quick “jumps” to avoid threats.

• Use pheromone trails to find mates.

• Feeding: Can filter up to a million times their body volume in water daily, mainly feeding on phytoplankton.

About South Sandwich Islands:

• Location: Located in the South Atlantic Ocean, north of the Weddell Sea. Situated about 470 miles (760 km) southeast of South Georgia.

• Located in the South Atlantic Ocean, north of the Weddell Sea.

• Situated about 470 miles (760 km) southeast of South Georgia.

• Key Features: Group of actively volcanic islets extending over 190 miles (305 km). Entirely glacier-covered with harsh, uninhabitable conditions. Originally included with the Falkland Islands until 1985; now a British Overseas Territory along with South Georgia. Briefly occupied by Argentine military in 1976; retaken by Britain during the Falklands War in 1982.

• Group of actively volcanic islets extending over 190 miles (305 km).

• Entirely glacier-covered with harsh, uninhabitable conditions.

• Originally included with the Falkland Islands until 1985; now a British Overseas Territory along with South Georgia.

• Briefly occupied by Argentine military in 1976; retaken by Britain during the Falklands War in 1982.