Salps are gelatinous marine animals that belong to the class Thaliacea. They are typically transparent and can vary in size, ranging from a few millimeters to several centimeters long. Salps are known for their unique ability to form long chains or colonies, which helps them move through the water by contracting and expelling water. These creatures primarily feed on phytoplankton, filtering it from the water as they swim. Salps play an important role in the ocean ecosystem by contributing to the marine food web and helping to regulate carbon cycling, as they can sink to the ocean floor after dying, transporting carbon with them.