Branchinecta longiantenna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Branchinecta longiantenna |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Subphylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: |
Anostraca
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| Family: |
Branchinectidae
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| Genus: |
Branchinecta
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| Species: |
B. longiantenna
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| Binomial name | |
| Branchinecta longiantenna Eng, Belk & Eriksen, 1990
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The longhorn fairy shrimp (scientific name: Branchinecta longiantenna) is a very special and rare type of tiny creature called a crustacean. It belongs to a group known as Anostraca, which are often called fairy shrimp. This little animal is found only in California, United States. It is so rare that it is listed as an endangered species by the U.S. government. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
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What is a Longhorn Fairy Shrimp?
The longhorn fairy shrimp is quite small. It usually grows to be about one to two centimeters long. That's about the size of your fingernail! What makes it special are its antennae. They are shaped differently from other fairy shrimp, which helps scientists tell them apart.
Where Do They Live?
These fairy shrimp live in special places called vernal pools. Vernal pools are temporary ponds that fill with water during the rainy season and then dry up later in the year. You can find these pools on grasslands or sometimes on sandstone rocks.
How Do They Grow?
It takes a while for a longhorn fairy shrimp to grow up. From the time it hatches, it needs at least 23 days to become an adult. On average, it takes about 43 days. They need the vernal pools to stay wet long enough for them to complete their life cycle.
Where Can You Find Them?
Sadly, there are only four main groups of longhorn fairy shrimp left in California. These groups are quite far apart from each other.
- In San Luis Obispo County, some fairy shrimp live in vernal pools on a place called the Carrizo Plain. Some of these pools are protected, but others are on private land without protection.
- In Merced County, which is in the Central Valley, you can find them inside the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge. This area is protected, which helps keep them safe.
- In Contra Costa County, the species lives in several vernal pools and even in small water-filled dips in rocks. This group is also protected in a special preserve.
- In Alameda County, the fairy shrimp live in vernal pools within another preserve, where they are also protected.
In 2003, one single fairy shrimp was found near Los Banos. However, scientists don't think this means there's a whole new group living there.
Why Are They Endangered?
The longhorn fairy shrimp is in danger of extinction because there are so few of them. They live in only a few small groups. If even one of these groups disappears, it would greatly reduce the total number of fairy shrimp left in the world. This makes them very vulnerable to changes in their habitat or other threats. Protecting their vernal pool homes is very important for their survival.
