Branchiopoda Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Branchiopoda Temporal range: Cambrian – Recent

Triops
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Crustacea
Class:	Branchiopoda

Branchiopoda is a group of small crustaceans. They are like tiny cousins to crabs and lobsters. Most branchiopods live in fresh water, such as ponds and lakes. They often eat tiny floating plants and animals called plankton, or bits of dead plants and animals called detritus. Some, like certain types of Daphnia, can also live in the ocean.

What are Branchiopods?
Types of Branchiopods
Images for kids
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What are Branchiopods?

Branchiopods are special because they have gills on most of their body parts, even near their mouths! Their name, "Branchiopoda," actually means "gill-foot." This helps them breathe underwater. They are a very old group of animals, with fossils found from the Cambrian Period. This means they have been around for hundreds of millions of years!

Types of Branchiopods

There are many different kinds of branchiopods. Here are a few interesting examples:

Fairy Shrimp

Artemia salina (a type of brine shrimp)

Fairy shrimp are small, delicate crustaceans. They often swim upside down! They live in temporary pools of water that dry up sometimes. Their eggs can survive for a long time in dry soil, waiting for the rain to come back. A well-known type of fairy shrimp is the Brine shrimp. These live in very salty water, like salt lakes or even in salt flats. They are often used as food for pet fish.

Tadpole Shrimp (Notostraca)

Tadpole shrimp look a bit like tiny horseshoe crabs or tadpoles. They have a large, shield-like shell covering their head and body. They also live in temporary pools and can dig into the mud. The Triops is a famous example of a tadpole shrimp. They are sometimes called "dinosaur shrimp" because they look very similar to their ancient ancestors.

Water Fleas (Cladocera)

Daphnia pulex (a water flea)

Water fleas are tiny branchiopods that are very common in fresh water. They are often called "fleas" because of their jerky, jumping way of swimming. The most famous water flea is Daphnia. If you look closely at pond water, you might see them! They are very important in the food chain, as many fish and other aquatic animals eat them.