General Description
Body flattened and enclosed within two oval sections of the carapace. Legs and antennae extend from the gap between the two sections of the carapace. Body up to 2 mm long.
Biology
Seed Shrimps swim by extending their legs and antennae out from the carapace, and wriggling them around. They can withdraw their legs and antennae inside the carapace, close the two sections together and survive for short periods (months) without water.
Distribution
Worldwide. Mainland Australia and Tasmania.
Habitat
Open water or on the bottom, in streams, ponds and wetlands.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Flat oval carapace; antennae and legs extend from the gap around the edge of the carapace halves.
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Diet
Omnivore
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Diet Categories
Organic matter, Algae
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Endemicity
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Taxon Name
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Common Name
Seed Shrimp
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Superclass
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Class