Endangered Species Guide : Invertebrates : Animal Planet

Endangered Invertebrates

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CONSERVANCY FAIRY SHRIMP (Branchinecta conservatio)

The conservancy fairy shrimp is a tiny, delicate crustacean with stalked eyes and 11 pairs of legs. It lives in the Central Valley and coastal areas of California, where females drop eggs into temporary pools that appear after heavy rains. When the pools dry up, the eggs may remain part of the ecosystem for months or years until more rains cause them to hatch. Much of the temporary pool ecosystem in California has been converted to agriculture.

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IUCN Status: Endangered
USFWS Status: Endangered
Major Threat: Agricultural development
Habitat: Large, cool-water vernal pools
Location: Central Valley and coastal areas of California
Diet: Algae, bacteria, protozoa, rotifers and bits of detritus

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