Shield Shrimps By Heidi and Jack

What are shield shrimps? Shield Shrimps are the most strange looking and distinctive of all desert crustaceans, and are found over much of inland Australia. They are extremely uncommon, with only two species of this animal so far. Scientists are still trying to discover more species, but have so far been unsuccessful. They are different to normal shrimps, while most shrimps have more of a prawn-like body, triops australiensis have a big shield across their body. Although shield shrimps have been around for 350 million years, humans have only discovered them this century.

Adaptations They belong to a group of crustaceans called "branchiopods", which means that they have "gill feet "leaf-like, lobed feet, each holding a gill plate to let them breathe. They are different to normal shrimps, while most shrimps have more of a prawn-like body, triops australiensis have a big shield across their body. They can survive in dry conditions but their predators cannot, so basically while the shield shrimps are hiding for years, their predators can’t survive for more than a few months without water. This is a smart way to lose off predators. Shield shrimps shield is very helpful to help them defend themselves from predators, helping them from predators with getting hit or attacked and can sometimes help them disguise as a rock or an other small round hard object.

Behavioural adaptations Within weeks, shield shrimp babies can transform into adults. Shield shrimps move in small groups usually containing their family or shrimps around the same age. These groups are very small, including around 3 – 6 shrimps per group. Unlike other shrimps, these creatures can sense following rain, advantaging all of the other animals that might be around their group.

Structural features They are shaped like a tadpole, their shield is wide fat and oval shaped and a scaled tail. The "shield" is a body part that protects the head and front part of their body from rocks, dust, and sometimes are used to hide away from predators. Their colour is normally olive green to brown. Adult shrimps reach about 90 mm in body length while their children reach up to about 5 cm in body length. They have a tail and feet that help them swim much faster in shallow lakes, ponds and damns they propel through the water and use their tail almost like flippers.

Environments Shrimps are defenceless so they usually hide in waterholes that are dying out. The reason for this is because most of their predators can’t survive months without any water, but the shield shrimps can. These environments are dry and harsh, and shield shrimps are one of the few that can survive for years in these hard environments. They are a freshwater species and are found in rock pools and Isolated places. You could find them in damns in hot environments, just before they dry up.

Environments- continued With the lack of water, the eggs can stay underground for up to seven years waiting for enough rain to hatch. They are well adapted to these environments and have learned over thousands or millions of years to survive in these arid conditions. (See adaptations.) They live in central Australia and dry parts of Australia. This means you are most likely to find them in places like Western Australia and the northern territory. Some people have even found them on top of Uluru!

Comparison- pictures

Shield shrimp The shield shrimp has a wider front because of its shield. This shield shrimp however has three eyes, more flat against its head and further away from the rest of its body. This shrimps scales are also on it’s tail but they are smaller and closer together.

Common shrimp A normal/ common shrimp has a longer, more curved body shape This shrimp have two black, beady eyes more far apart from each other and stick out from off the body. This shrimp’s tail is scaled with large and thick scales.

Glossary Arid- dry, with a lack of water. Most often used describing hot or desert environments. Gill- a lung to help them breath. Most marine animals have these body parts. Crustacean- a group of animals like mammals or reptiles. They most often have a shell. An example of a crustacean is a crab or lobster. Isolated- an empty environment, far away from other populated places, or animals. Predators: animals that normally hunt smaller or less powerful animals to eat them as prey. Prey: predators eat prey to survive and keep their kids/ babies alive.

Bibliography https://australianmuseum.net.au/image/the-iconic-uluru https://australianmuseum.net.au/shrimps-from-uluru https://www.treehugger.com/animals/prehistoric-shrimp-emerge-australian-desert- after-heavy-rain.html http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:5facf1b5-ae36-4638- 809b-c8bfce3016e2 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-13/shield-shrimps-in-central-australia-heavy- rains/8176744

Bibliography- continued http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Find+out+about/Animals+of+Queensland/Crustaceans/Com mon+freshwater+and+terrestrial+crustaceans/Shield+Shrimp#.WT9TG5KGMY2 http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/creatura-blog/2013/11/shield-shrimp/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4115880/Strange-Shield-Shrimp-appear- Central-Australia-following-heavy-rain.html https://www.google.com.au/search?q=shield+shrimp+diagram&safe=strict&source=ln ms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwic9Yqx6rnUAhVEl5QKHdSJAjUQ_AUICigB&biw =1280&bih=673#imgrc=aZUYgjckW-0c3M: