Description
Vernal pool fairy shrimp are usually translucent, however some have been observed to be white or orange.
They feature stalked compound eyes, no carapace, and eleven pairs of legs. The fairy shrimp swim by moving their legs from front to back in a wave-like motion. They eat algae, bacteria, protozoa, rotifers, and detritus, and are eaten by birds and other animals, notably by the tadpoles of spadefoot toads.
Vernal pool fairy shrimp have a lifetime of about two months. They are usually born around early January, and die around early March.
The female fairy shrimp lay drought-resistant eggs shortly before they die. The eggs sink to the bottom of the vernal pools, embedding into the soil when they dry. When the vernal pool refills the next winter, the eggs hatch, starting the process over.
Read more about this topic: Branchinecta Lynchi
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