Description
Also known as American Tadpole Shrimp, Living Fossil, Mini Horseshoe Crab, Rice Tadpole Shrimp.
Found in freshwater ponds and pools.
They feed on algae, insects and organic debris.
Length - 7.5cm
Depth - ?
Widespread North America
They resemble miniature horseshoe crabs and are considered living fossils.
These tadpoles are considered a human ally against West Nile Virus as they consume Culux Mosquito larvae. Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triops_longicaudatus
1 comment
Posted by Leslie KistnerI just found this article. We have had an unusual amount of rain in the Texas panhandle. Years ago we had a similar summer. Water stood for weeks on areas that had not seem water in years. We found these little shrimp like creatures. My Dad was the only person that could put a name to them. He called them Prairie Shrimp. We tried keeping some in an aquarium and they did not survive. I know in my heart there are probably prairie shrimp in some of the standing water we have now!