Streptocephalus proboscideus

Streptocephalus proboscideus, sometimes called the Sudanese fairy shrimp, is a species of fairy shrimp found in eastern Africa.

Streptocephalus proboscideus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Branchiopoda
Order:
Anostraca
Family:
Streptocephalidae
Genus:
Streptocephalus
Species:
S. proboscideus
Binomial name
Streptocephalus proboscideus
(Frauenfeld, 1873)

Characteristics

S. proboscideus may reach 3 centimetres (1.2 in) in length. The colouring varies from translucent to almost black. The Latin name, Streptocephalus proboscideus, means "twisted head with a proboscis", referring to a median appendage on the head between the antennae. The male antennae are the main identification feature of this species.

It is an active swimmer, requiring a water temperature of 25 °C (77 °F) or higher. This fairy shrimp may filter up to 2 litres (0.44 imp gal; 0.53 US gal) of water in 24 hours. S. proboscideus may live as long as 9 months under laboratory conditions.

Ecology

The Sudanese fairy shrimp is found in shallow rain pools where it may form huge swarms. Its eggs may lie dormant in dry mud for several years. This fairy shrimp is an omnivore that can filter particles as small as yeast cells or as large as 0.2 mm. It may also eat nauplii of its own species or other species indiscriminately.

Life cycle

An S. proboscideus nauplius turns into a mature individual in less than two weeks. The female produces clutches of 100–300 eggs. An average female may produce 35–40 such clutches in her lifetime. She must be fertilised after each clutch.

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References
  • Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Volume 2 — Protostomes.

Further reading
  • L. Brendonck (1989). "Redescription of the fairy shrimp Streptocephalus proboscideus (Frauenfeld, 1873) (Crustacea, Anostraca)". Bulletin van het Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen, Biologie / Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Science Naturelles de Belgique, Biologie. 59: 49–57.
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