Fairy shrimp were discovered at Joshua Tree National Park after tropical storm Hilary.
(
Allie Jimenez
/
National Park Service
)
Topline:
A tiny 22-legged crustacean that swims upside down, flapping its legs front to back, has become the star at Joshua Tree National Park following the heavy rains that came with Tropical Storm Hilary.
Why did it happen: Eggs lay dormant in soil beds for years. But the recent storm meant that the Barker Dam Reservoir filled up with water, allowing the eggs to "activate, hatch, grow, and mature. The adults will then deposit eggs before the pool dries up once again,” Joshua Tree National Park rangers wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
About the species: Fairy shrimp are 22-legged crustaceans without the hardshell. They're listed as a threatened species for various reasons, including climate change, drought and the use of pesticides.
A tiny 22-legged crustacean that swims upside down, flapping its legs front to back, has become the star at Joshua Tree National Park following the heavy rains that came with Tropical Storm Hilary.
The cute little fairy shrimp emerged after long dormant eggs were activated by the recent storm water in the park’s Barker Dam reservoir, prompting rangers to post about it on social media.
“Last month, tropical storm Hilary dropped 1-4 inches of rain on different parts of the park. Before the storm, the Barker Dam reservoir was bone dry,” they said in the post. “After the storm, it was filled with water, fairy shrimp, tadpoles, and aquatic insects.”
Fairy shrimp were discovered at Joshua Tree National Park after Tropical Storm Hilary.
(
Sarah Jane Pepper
/
National Park Service
)
Fairy shrimp eggs can lie dormant for years in the soil of dry pools and potholes, the rangers added. Once they fill with water and the right conditions occur, the shrimp can hatch, grow and mature, depositing more eggs before conditions turn dry again.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife has designated the tiny crustaceans, primarily found in California, as a threatened species for various reasons, including climate change, drought and the use of pesticides.
