Anostraca is one of the four orders of crustaceans in the class Branchiopoda; its members are known as fairy shrimp. They live in vernal pools and hypersaline lakes across the world, and have even been found in deserts, ice-covered mountain lakes and Antarctic ice, typically measuring 6 to 25 millimeters long, though exceptionally up to 170 millimeters. Most species have 20 body segments bearing 11 pairs of leaf-like phyllopodia used for swimming, and the body lacks a carapace; fairy shrimp are known for swimming upside-down while filtering particles or scraping algae for food.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleFarmed or Commercially Raised 1 Living or Extinct Scientific Name Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Anostraca (Wikidata)
In Biome
Source Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp (Natomas Basin Conservancy)
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Denmark, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Norway, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Sweden, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: United States, found in there.
Sources
1. Anostraca (Wikipedia)
Lead, first sentence
Anostraca is one of the four orders of crustaceans in the class Branchiopoda; its members are referred to as fairy shrimp.
- some are cultured and harvested for use as fish food
View the Source2. Anostraca (Wikidata)
WikidataStatements section, habitat (P2974): Freshwater
Wikidata habitat statement (P2974) resolves to a freshwater habitat type.
- Child Taxon Of: Branchiopoda, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source 3. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ853383, descriptionView the Source Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp (Natomas Basin Conservancy)
Natomas Basin ConservancyIn Biome: Vernal Pool, Vernal pool fairy shrimp species page, habitatQuote, In Biome: Vernal Pool, Vernal pool fairy shrimp species page, habitat
Vernal pool fairy shrimp are found in grassland vernal pools or similar seasonal wetlands.
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.