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Tadpole Shrimp

Crustaceans

Tadpole shrimp, genus Triops, are small freshwater crustaceans named for their tadpole-like shape, with a broad, shield-like carapace covering the front of the body and a long, tapering tail. Often called living fossils because their basic body form has changed little across an exceptionally long fossil record, they inhabit temporary pools that form after rain, hatching quickly from drought-resistant eggs that can remain dormant in dry soil for years, then growing to maturity and reproducing within just a few weeks before the pool dries again.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Omnivore 2
System (Realm)
Freshwater 3
Relationship to People
Agricultural or Structural Pest 4
Living or Extinct
Yes 5
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Resemble miniature horseshoe crabs with a shield-like carapace and two long tail filaments 1
Scientific Name
Triops 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Branchiopoda, Taxa
Source Wikidata: Tadpole Shrimp

In Biome

Lake, Biomes
Source Wikidata: Tadpole Shrimp
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.
Sources
1. Triops: Facts about the three-eyed 'dinosaur shrimp' (Live Science)
  • Article text
    Triops
  • Article text, description clause
    look like miniature horseshoe crabs
View the Source
2. Wikidata: Tadpole Shrimp
  • Wikidata Q3344541, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
  • Wikipedia 'Tadpole Shrimp': Notostracans are omnivores living on the bottom of temporary pools and shallow lakes
  • Child Taxon Of: Branchiopoda, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
  • In Biome: Lake, Introduction
View the Source
3. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species APIView the Source
4. Notostraca (Wikipedia)
article text (relationship to people), EntityId 312580
Quote, article text (relationship to people), EntityId 312580
The species Triops longicaudatus is considered an agricultural pest in California rice paddies, because it prevents light from reaching the rice seedlings by stirring up sediment.
View the Source
5. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ114364, descriptionView the Source
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