Tadpole Shrimp
Order Notostraca
The Tadpole Shrimp (Order Notostraca) includes 2 species across 1 families and 2 genera in our directory.
About Tadpole Shrimp
This is a smaller arthropod order with specialized ecological roles. Arthropods are the most diverse animal phylum, comprising over 80% of all known animal species with approximately 1.2 million described species globally.
Economic Impact
While this order has limited direct economic impact, arthropods collectively provide ecosystem services worth trillions of dollars annually through pollination, decomposition, pest control, and nutrient cycling.
Ecological Role
Members of this order contribute to broader arthropod ecosystem functions including decomposition, predation, and serving as food sources for vertebrates. Arthropod biodiversity is essential for ecosystem resilience.
Families in Notostraca (1)
Species in Notostraca (2)
Vernal Pool Tadpole Shrimp
Lepidurus packardi
Per USFWS Recovery Plan: "Two other species of Lepidurus are found in California. One, the cryptic tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus cryptus), has recently been described (Rogers 2001). This species cannot be differentiated from the vernal pool tadpole shrim
Triops longicaudatus
Triops longicaudatus