THE XERCES SOCIETY FOR INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION

Aquatic Invertebrates in Pacific Northwest Freshwater Wetlands
An Identification Guide and Educational Resource

Anostraca, also known as fairy or brine shrimp, are a group of branchiopods that can be found in freshwater or saltwater pools. In ephemeral habitats, the eggs of these shrimp can survive without water for long periods of time, hatching a few weeks after rain fills the pool again.

Fairy shrimp swim upside-down, beating their leaf-like appendages with a waving movement. They feed on algae, bacteria, protozoa, rotifers and bits of detritus.