Artemiidae
Grochowski, 1896
Brine Shrimp
Artemiidae is a of branchiopod containing the single Artemia, commonly known as brine shrimp. These organisms inhabit hypersaline inland waters worldwide where their extreme salinity excludes most . The family has remained morphologically unchanged since the period. Artemiidae serve as important food sources for waterbirds and as intermediate for avian . Their desiccation- cysts have enabled commercial harvest and widespread use in aquaculture as live feed.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Artemiidae: //ɑːrˈtiːmi.aɪdiː//
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Identification
Distinguished from other Anostraca by extreme salinity (2.5-25%, optimum 6-10%) and association with hypersaline inland waters rather than freshwater . The single Artemia is the only genus in the . Cyst formation in response to desiccation, low oxygen, or rising temperatures is a diagnostic trait. Morphological stasis since the separates Artemiidae from other branchiopod families with more derived features.
Images
Habitat
Inland salt waters worldwide; saline (2.5%) to hypersaline (25%) aquatic environments with optimum salinity of 6-10%. Occupies protected from fish due to extreme salinity. Specific documented locations include: Mono Lake and salt pools near Chula Vista (California, USA), Lake Tengiz (Kazakhstan), Camargue wetlands (France), Odiel Marshes (Andalusia, Spain), Great Salt Lake (Utah, USA), and saline lakes in Algeria.
Distribution
Worldwide in inland salt waters. Documented from: Mono Lake and Chula Vista area, California, USA; Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA; Lake Tengiz, Kazakhstan; Camargue wetlands, France; Odiel Marshes, Andalusia, Spain; saline lakes in Algeria; Western Mediterranean coasts of Spain and France.
Diet
Plankton; also ingest helminth which facilitates their role as intermediate for avian .
Host Associations
- Aploparaksis parafilum - intermediate Avian
- Brachiopodataenia gvozdev - intermediate Avian
- Confluaria podicipina - intermediate Avian
- Fimbriaroides tadornae - intermediate Avian ; cysticercoid development completed in 12-15 days at 22-24°C and 6.5% salinity
- Flamingolepis caroli - intermediate Avian
- Flamingolepis flamingo - intermediate Avian
- Flamingolepis liguloides - intermediate Avian
- Flamingolepis tengizi - intermediate Avian
- Hymenolepis californicus - intermediate Avian
- Wardium fusca - intermediate Avian
- Wardium stellorae - intermediate Avian
- Anomolepis averini - intermediate Avian
- Anomotaenia tringae - intermediate Avian
- Anomotaenia microphallus - intermediate Avian
- Gynandotaenia stammeri - intermediate Avian
- Gynandrotaenia spp. - intermediate Avian (undetermined )
- Wardium gvozdevi - intermediate Avian ; cysticercoid development completed in 12-15 days at 22-24°C and 6.5% salinity
- Eurycestus avoceti - intermediate Avian
- Acuariidae - intermediate Nematodes (larval stages)
- Fuhrmannolepis averini - intermediate Avian
- Flamingos - food source forImportant food source
- Waders - food source forImportant food source
Life Cycle
Under normal conditions, females are ovo- and produce nauplius that hatch immediately. Under unfavorable conditions—low oxygen, rising temperatures, or desiccation—females produce floating, thick-shelled, metabolically inactive cysts. These cysts remain viable for up to two years in dry conditions and hatch when hydrated under optimal conditions. For , cysticercoid development is completed in 12-15 days at 22-24°C and 6.5% salinity.
Behavior
Ingests helminth along with plankton, facilitating their role as intermediate for avian . Forms massive in suitable . Reproductive mode shifts between live birth and cyst production based on environmental conditions.
Ecological Role
Important food source for flamingos and waders. Serves as intermediate for at least 16 of avian across three (Hymenolepididae, Dilepididae, Progynotaeniidae), facilitating transmission to definitive bird hosts. Occupies protected from fish due to extreme salinity .
Human Relevance
Nauplii are widely used in aquaculture as live feed. Brine shrimp cysts are fed to certain pirate (Orius spp.) used for in greenhouses. Commercial harvest of cysts supports aquaculture and aquarium industries. Historical record dates to 10th century AD from Urmia Lake, Iran.
Similar Taxa
- Other Anostraca familiesArtemiidae is distinguished by extreme hypersaline preference and cyst-forming reproductive strategy; other fairy shrimp inhabit freshwater and lack comparable desiccation- cysts.
More Details
Morphological stasis
The has changed little externally since the period, representing an example of evolutionary stasis.
Historical record
First historical record dates to the first half of the 10th century AD from Urmia Lake, Iran, where an Iranian geographer referred to an example as an 'aquatic dog'.
Taxonomic note
Artemiidae contains only the single Artemia.