We caught this critter with some tadpoles in a mudhole after the monsoon rains in North/Central Arizona. Any ideas what it might be?? It is tiny....size of a large tadpole, a stingray shaped body, and lots of legs that ruffle to move it through the water. It likes to snuggle/shimmy against the bottom of the container as if trying to borrow into muck.
My Granddaughter and I are curious. Thank you!!
Well it's not an insect but rather a crustacean. I can't tell you exactly what species it is but it is a tadpole shrimp (order Notastraca) in the genus Triops.
They are pretty amazing little animals that lay amazingly tough "diapause" eggs which can basically dry and out and sit in the mud waiting (for years if necessary) for a temporary pond or puddle to form. At that point the eggs hatch and yound develop to adulthood pretty rapidly before mating and producing more eggs that in turn can survive till the next suitable rains.
In fact if you google "triops" you'll find that you can buy kits containing eggs and food to raise them yourself if you want. Much like the "sea monkey" kits (which are artemia) but in my view these animals are way cooler to watch!
Last edited by Alistair Wilson (2nd Aug 2012 12:26:34)
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