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Fairy Shrimp — printable fact sheet
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Animal Fact Sheet
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Fairy Shrimp
Branchinecta lynchi
The fairy shrimp is a small, delicate freshwater crustacean found primarily in vernal pools and temporary ponds. They have elongated bodies, large stalked eyes, and swim gracefully upside down with the aid of their 11 pairs of leaf-like legs. Fairy shrimp are highly adapted to e…
Did you know?
- Despite their fragile appearance, fairy shrimp eggs can survive extreme drought and freezing for decades before hatching.
- Fairy shrimp swim upside down and use their legs to both move and filter food from the water. Their eggs, called cysts, can withstand freezing and drying out for years, hatching only when conditions are right. Some species of fairy shrimp are highly localized and found only in specific pools or regions.
What I learned
Draw the fairy shrimp
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