WHATSTHATFISH
Crustaceans

Longtail Tadpole Shrimp

Triops longicaudatus

Also known as: American Tadpole Shrimp, Living Fossil, Mini Horseshoe Crab, Rice Tadpole Shrimp

Adult
@Zac21 · Colorado, United States · August 20131 / 2
01

Overview

Found in freshwater ponds and pools.
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.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Fins & Tail
filament fins

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found in freshwater ponds and pools.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion 1

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1 comment

  • Leslie Kistner· 23 Jun 2015

    I 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!

ALL STAGES
FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

Deep dive

Taxonomy

  1. kingdomAnimalia
  2. phylumArthropoda
  3. classBranchiopoda
  4. orderNotostraca
  5. familyTriopsidae
  6. genusTriops
  7. speciesTriops longicaudatus LeConte, 1846

SourcesWoRMSWikipedia