Spinytail Fairy Shrimp
Streptocephalus sealii
This record describes Streptocephalus sealii (species). Recorded family: Streptocephalidae. Recorded order: Anostraca.
Identification and Appearance
Detailed descriptions, photomicrographs, and key to species Updated key to species
Wikipedia reference for Streptocephalus sealii: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptocephalus sealii.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Branchiopoda
- Order
- Anostraca (Brine Shrimp and Fairy Shrimp)
- Family
- Streptocephalidae
- Genus
- Streptocephalus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
"Found in freshwater ponds and temporary pools making geographic distribution erratic. Sporadic, localized, and often season occurrence (Fitzpatrick, 1983). Found in seasonal wetlands and temporary pools" - EOL
Geographic Range
"...found from prairie provinces in Canada, east to New York, and south to Vera Cruz, Mexico" (Fitzpatrick, 1983)
About Brine Shrimp and Fairy Shrimp: the wider group
Order-level background for Anostraca, the group containing Streptocephalus sealii. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Anostraca (fairy shrimp and brine shrimp) includes ~300 described species. Brine shrimp (Artemia) eggs can survive complete desiccation for decades - NASA has even hatched them after spaceflight exposure.
Ecological role of the group
Fairy shrimp inhabit temporary pools that fill with seasonal rains. Their drought-resistant eggs can remain viable in dry soil for 10-20 years, hatching when conditions are right. They are critical food sources for migratory waterbirds.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Brine shrimp are a $1.6 billion industry - their eggs (cysts) are harvested from the Great Salt Lake in Utah and sold worldwide as fish food in aquaculture. Sea-Monkeys, the iconic toy, are actually brine shrimp (Artemia).
Recorded sources for this group: Great Salt Lake ecology, aquaculture industry, NASA. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Spinytail Fairy Shrimp (7)
Photo credits: no rights reserved, uploaded by Scott Loarie | (c) faerthen, all rights reserved, uploaded by faerthen | (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda | Contributed by Brady Richards; Additional contributions by Edward Ruden , metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinytail Fairy Shrimp
What is Spinytail Fairy Shrimp?
Spinytail Fairy Shrimp (Streptocephalus sealii) is a species in the family Streptocephalidae, within the order Anostraca.
How do you identify Spinytail Fairy Shrimp?
Detailed descriptions, photomicrographs, and key to species Updated key to species
Where is Spinytail Fairy Shrimp found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Found in freshwater ponds and temporary pools making geographic distribution erratic. Sporadic, localized, and often season occurrence (Fitzpatrick, 1983). Found in seasonal wetlands and temporary pools - EOL |
| Range | ...found from prairie provinces in Canada, east to New York, and south to Vera Cruz, Mexico (Fitzpatrick, 1983) |