Fairy shrimp
Eubranchipus vernalis

Fairy shrimp are relatively large and slow-moving crustaceans that live in vernal pools which are small, shallow forest ponds, fed by melting snow, rain or groundwater, but dry up during certain times of the year.

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A close-up view of fairy shrimp and mosquito larvae floating above dead leaves in a shallow pool of water.
Fairy shrimp and mosquito larvae swim in a vernal pool at Forest Pools Preserve, adjacent to Kings Gap State Park in Cumberland County, Pa., on March 25, 2016. Because vernal pools, or seasonal wetlands, dry up every year, they don't harbor fish and thus are critical habitat for many amphibian species. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)

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Appearance

Fairy shrimp are between 0.5 and two inches in length and have 10 pairs of leg-like appendages called phyllopods that are used for swimming. They swim slowly and belly-side up. Their diet affects their color—they are most often orange, but may also be white, blue or green. Females have smaller heads than the males.

Feeding

Fairy shrimp are filter-feeders that scrape food off the bottom of their vernal pools. They eat algae, flatworm eggs and Arcella—a type of amoeba that have holes through their centers.

Predators

Predatory fish do not live in vernal pools, which make them a safe habitat for fairy shrimp. Birds, frogs, salamanders and insect larvae eat species of fairy shrimp.

Reproduction and life cycle

Fairy shrimp generally mate between April and May. Males die shortly after mating, while the females live until the pool dries up. The eggs are released into the water and remain dormant throughout the dry season. Once the pool fills with water again—often October or November—the eggs hatch. The larvae go through a variety of molts and gain body segments with each stage, reaching 20 segments as adults.

Did you know?

  • The Eubranchipus vernalis species is sometimes called the eastern, springtime or vernal fairy shrimp.
  • Fairy shrimp are a relative of brine shrimp—commonly sold as Sea Monkeys.
  • Dormant eggs in dried-out vernal pools may be moved by the wind or animals, but once hatched, fairy shrimp remain in the same pool for their entire life.

Sources and additional information

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