Fauna
Invertebrate

Tigriopus californicus

Tigriopus californicus

Also known as Splash Pool Copepod, California Tidepool Copepod

Tigriopus californicus thrives in the turbulent environment of high intertidal rock pools along the Pacific coast, enduring dramatic swings in temperature, salinity, and oxygen levels that would kill most marine life. Adults and larvae accumulate bright red-orange carotenoid pigments that help shield their tissues from intense solar ultraviolet radiation. Because gene flow between isolated rocky outcrops is extraordinarily low, distinct populations along the coastline have become prominent models for studying rapid evolution and genetic divergence.

IntertidalCrustaceanExtreme Habitat
Tigriopus californicus reference1 / 4
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyBenthic Diatoms, Unicellular Green Algae, Microbial Biofilms
Predators
  • Woolly Sculpin
  • Tidepool Sculpin
  • Shorebirds
ThreatsPollution runoff, extreme heat waves that evaporate pools, and coastal trampling
HabitatsSupratidal and high intertidal splash pools along rocky marine coastlines
Life span1–3 months
Classification
  1. OrderHarpacticoida
  2. FamilyHarpacticidae
  3. GenusTigriopus
  4. SpeciesTigriopus californicus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Look Closely: Peer into sun-warmed, stagnant splash pools well above normal high tide to spot tiny orange specks darting through the water.
  • Use a Hand Lens: Bring a 10x field magnifier or macro lens to see segmented bodies, swimming antennae, and paired female egg sacs.
  • Tread Carefully: Step only on bare rock to avoid crushing microhabitats or polluting delicate pool water.
Related species
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