Fairy shrimp  (Chirocephalus diaphanus)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Range

This is the only fairy shrimp in Britain; it has formerly been recorded throughout much of England as far north as York, but has more recently become restricted to Devon, Cornwall, the New Forest, and Cambridgeshire (3). Elsewhere, it is found in continental Europe (3).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat

This species inhabits temporary pools, ranging from ponds to muddy ruts, and shows a preference for sites that are subject to regular disturbance by vehicles, livestock, or ploughing (livestock also enrich the site with their dung). The fairy shrimp cannot co-exist with fish and has a broad tolerance of varying levels of temperature, oxygen levels and water chemistry (3).

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