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
System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleAgricultural or Structural Pest 4 Living or Extinct Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceResemble miniature horseshoe crabs with a shield-like carapace and two long tail filaments 1 Comparison
CITES Appendix Scientific Name Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Wikidata: Tadpole Shrimp
In Biome
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
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 Source2. 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 Source3. GBIF Species API
4. Notostraca (Wikipedia)
article text (relationship to people), EntityId 312580Quote, 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.
5. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ114364, descriptionView the Source 6. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Animalia
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 23Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 23
"cites_listing":"I/II/III/NC","eu_listing":"A/B/C/D/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":null,"class":null,"order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Animals","language":"EN"},{"name":"Fauna","language":"EN"},{"name":"Animaux","language":"FR"}],"cites_listings":[]
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