Calanus

crustacean

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Calanus is a genus of reddish marine copepods, a type of crustacean. These copepods are widely found in northern seas and are a significant food source for fish like herring and mackerel, as well as for bowhead whales. Copepods, in general, are crucial to marine ecosystems, forming a vital part of food chains and serving as food for many fish species.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

6 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

crustacean
Importance to humans
, drifting) copepods, such as Calanus, and members of the order Euphausiacea (euphausiids), or krill, may be present in such great numbers that they discolour large areas of the open sea, thus indicating to fishermen where shoals of herring and mackerel are likely to be found.
Read More
, drifting) copepods, such as Calanus, and members of the order Euphausiacea (euphausiids), or krill, may be present in such great numbers that they discolour large areas of the open sea, thus indicating to fishermen where shoals of herring and mackerel are likely to be found.
Read More