fairy shrimp

fairy shrimp
any member of the crustacean order Anostraca, characterized by an elongate trunk with more than 20 segments and the absence of a carapace, typically found swimming ventral side up in fresh water.
[1855-60]

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Any of the crustaceans in the order Anostraca, named for their graceful movements and pastel colours.

Some grow to 1 in. (2.5 cm) or more in length. They live in freshwater ponds in Europe, Central Asia, western North America, the drier regions of Africa, and Australia. See also shrimp.

Fairy shrimp (Eubranchipus vernalis)

William Jahoda
National Audubon Society from Photo Researchers/EB Inc.

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 any of the crustaceans of the order Anostraca, so called because of their graceful movements and pastel colours. Some grow to 2.5 cm (about 1 inch) or more in length. They occur in freshwater ponds of Europe, Central Asia, western North America, the drier regions of Africa, and Australia. The most common species in Europe is Chirocephalus diaphanus; in North America the most common is Eubranchipus vernalis.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Fairy shrimp — Fairy Fair y, a. 1. Of or pertaining to fairies. [1913 Webster] 2. Given by fairies; as, fairy money. Dryden. [1913 Webster] {Fairy bird} (Zo[ o]l.), the Euoropean little tern ({Sterna minuta}); called also {sea swallow}, and {hooded tern}.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fairy shrimp — n. any of an order (Anostraca) of crustaceans, usually formed in temporary freshwater pools in early spring, having delicate colors and a graceful swimming motion …   English World dictionary

  • Fairy shrimp — Taxobox name = Fairy shrimp image caption = Adult fairy shrimp image width = 200px regnum = Animalia phylum = Arthropoda subphylum = Crustacea classis = Branchiopoda subclassis = Sarsostraca subclassis authority = Tasch, 1969 ordo = Anostraca… …   Wikipedia

  • fairy shrimp — fair′y shrimp n. ivt any transparent branchiopod crustacean of the order Anostraca, of freshwater ponds • Etymology: 1855–60 …   From formal English to slang

  • fairy shrimp — /ˈfɛəri ʃrɪmp/ (say fairree shrimp) noun a crustacean of the genus Chirocephalus, primitive in the retention on the body segments of unspecialised appendages …  

  • fairy shrimp — noun Date: 1857 any of several very small translucent freshwater branchiopod crustaceans (order Anostraca) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • fairy shrimp — noun A small freshwater branchiopod having a transparent body with many appendages and swimming on its back …   Wiktionary

  • fairy shrimp — noun a small transparent crustacean which swims on its back, using its legs to filter food particles from the water. [Order Anostraca: many species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • fairy shrimp — noun small freshwater branchiopod having a transparent body with many appendages; swims on its back • Hypernyms: ↑branchiopod crustacean, ↑branchiopod, ↑branchiopodan • Member Holonyms: ↑Artemia, ↑genus Artemia, ↑Chirocephalus, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Midvalley fairy shrimp — Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum …   Wikipedia

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