Class
Common name: Copepods
Scientific name: Maxillopoda
Maxillopoda is a diverse class of crustaceans within the phylum Arthropoda, including well-known groups such as copepods and barnacles. Copepods are crucial in marine ecosystems as a food source for many fish species and are often used in reef tanks to establish a natural food chain. Barnacles, with their distinctive hard plates and filter-feeding habits, can also be found in marine aquariums but may be considered pests due to their propensity to overgrow on surfaces and equipment.