CREATURES OF THE GELATINOUS WORLD 2 – SALPS

CREATURES OF THE GELATINOUS WORLD 2 – SALPS

Salps (Order: Salpida) are planktonic tunicates with cylindrical-shaped bodies.

They move through contractions, where water is pumped through their gelatinous bodies, enabling salps to perform movements. They possess one of the most efficient jet propulsion systems in the entire animal kingdom.

Salps filter the water pumped into their bodies through specialized filters, which allow them to retain the phytoplankton they feed on.

Salps are common in equatorial, temperate, and even cold waters. They can be found both individually and in long filamentous colonies, as depicted in this artwork.

The highest concentration of salps is found in the southern oceans (near Antarctica), where they form massive blooms, often in deep waters.

The species depicted here belongs to the Thetys vagina and is one of the largest, most common, and well-studied salps.

This is one of the three artworks from the “Creatures of the Gelatinous World” series exhibited at the plankton exhibition “MICROCEANO – Journey into the Invisible Marine World” at Miramare Castle in Trieste, from June 5th to June 20th, 2021.

In collaboration with:
@ampmiramare @ogs_it @wwfitalia @lorenzopetercastelletto_photos.

Text source: Wikipedia

Year: 2020

Client: Simone Zoccante / Diorama Nature

Software: Adobe Photoshop

Dimension (for Print): 200 x 200 cm @ 300 dpi

Dimension (in Pixel): 23622 x 23622 px

If you’re interested in commissioning me a similar painting or to buy the licensing rights of this artwork, feel free to contact me at simonezoccante@gmail.com. Thank you.