Salps are barrel-shaped, transparent, marine invertebrates. Though they are usually rare in British waters, the last few summers have seen large blooms appear in the waters around the islands and the coast of Cornwall. Of the 45 species, the predominant salp seen in British waters is Salpa fusiformis. It occurs singly or as a colony. A single animal grows to just over 5 cm, while reproductive colonies grow in chains that can reach several metres.
Salps are almost transparent and are often mistaken for jellyfish, despite having no stinging cells. They are filter feeders, consuming vast quantities of phytoplankton and other small particles by filtering the water as they move.
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