Anostraca
Guides
Branchinecta
fairy shrimp
Branchinecta is a genus of fairy shrimp (Anostraca) comprising approximately 50 species distributed across all continents except Australia. The genus includes the largest anostracan, Branchinecta gigas, reaching up to 10 cm in length, and the highest-altitude crustacean, B. brushi, recorded at 5,930 m elevation. Species occupy diverse temporary freshwater habitats from Arctic and Antarctic regions to high-elevation Andean pools. Two species, B. gaini and B. granulosa, have been synonymized based on molecular evidence showing insufficient genetic differentiation.
Dendrocephalus
fairy shrimp
Dendrocephalus is a genus of fairy shrimp (Anostraca) in the family Thamnocephalidae, distributed across South and North America. The genus is characterized by a distinctive antenna-like frontal appendage arising between the second antennae and the eyestalks. It comprises approximately 17 species arranged in two subgenera: Dendrocephalus (South American species) and Dendrocephalinus (North American species). Several species have been described recently, with ongoing taxonomic work revealing intra-populational polymorphism in frontal appendage morphology.
Eubranchipus
fairy shrimp, vernalis fairy shrimp, eastern fairy shrimp
Eubranchipus is a genus of freshwater fairy shrimp (Anostraca: Chirocephalidae) comprising 21 described species. These small branchiopods inhabit temporary pools and vernal ponds across North America, Europe, and Asia. Populations exhibit rapid life cycles synchronized with ephemeral aquatic habitats, hatching from desiccation-resistant resting eggs when pools fill and completing development before summer desiccation.