1. SEA SAPPHIRE
An interpretation of the crustacean
Sapphirina Copepod and its light reflectance
via shell structure

2. Research
• Carl Claus (1835-1899)
• Zoologist
• Univ. Vienna
• Weizman Inst. & Interuniversity institue
for Marine Sciences
• -located in israel

3. Copepod
• Crustaceans
• Metazoan
• Genus: sapphrinia copepod
• Symbiotic
• Eat mosquito larvae
• Length: 0.2-2mm (some up to 10mm)

4. Why do they shine?
• Covered with chitin
• Guanine Crystals (hexagonal structure)
• Cytoplasm separates the layers
• Thickness of cytoplasm and light angle
• Spacing: 4/10th of a mm
• Structural coloration

8. Location
• Africa
• Rhode Island
• California
Preferred Locations:
freshwater or
hypersaline environments

9. Importance/significance
• Shells and scales used for pearly
iridescence features in
shampoos,cosmetics and paint.
• Future: to be used for optical
technologies such as optical displays and
mirrors.

10. • https://youtu.be/26kus22RaTo

12. End