Eubranchipus oregonus, or the Oregon fairy shrimp, is a species of fairy shrimp in the genus Eubranchipus.[2] The species is vulnerable in Canada.[1]

Eubranchipus oregonus

Vulnerable  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Branchiopoda
Order: Anostraca
Family: Chirocephalidae
Genus: Eubranchipus
Species:
E. oregonus
Binomial name
Eubranchipus oregonus
Creaser, 1930

Description

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Oregon fairy shrimp may range in colour from white, pink, pale reddish-orange, or greenish-blue.[3] They swim upside down. The typical size for mature males is up to 15.6 mm (0.61 in) and up to 26.8 mm (1.06 in) for mature females. The complete life cycle of Oregon fairy shrimp is approximately 23 - 25 weeks.[4]

Range

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The distribution of this species spans less than 40 locations in the Pacific Northwest, ranging from southern British Columbia (the Lower Mainland, south Vancouver Island, select Gulf Islands) to northern California, and a few sites in wetter regions of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range.[5][4] Isolate population occurrences in Oklahoma are associated with the southern boundary of the Laurentide Ice Sheet.[6]

Habitat

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Oregon fairy shrimp are considered an indicator species, and are found in shallow freshwater vernal pools that are typically neutral to mildly acidic in nature.[4]

 
A vernal pool in Oregon

References

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  1. ^ a b "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  2. ^ "Eubranchipus oregonus (Oregon Fairy Shrimp)". iNaturalist Canada. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  3. ^ Voshell, J. Reese (2002). A guide to common freshwater invertebrates of North America. Blacksburg, Va: McDonald & Woodward. ISBN 978-0-939923-87-8.
  4. ^ a b c Coopey, Raymond W. (1950). "The Life History of the Fairy Shrimp Eubranchipus oregonus". Transactions of the American Microscopical Society. 69 (2): 125–132. doi:10.2307/3223401. ISSN 0003-0023. JSTOR 3223401.
  5. ^ Dexter, Ralph W. (1953). "Studies on North American Fairy Shrimps with the Description of Two New Species". The American Midland Naturalist. 49 (3): 751–771. doi:10.2307/2485207. ISSN 0003-0031. JSTOR 2485207.
  6. ^ Eriksen, Clyde; Belk, Denton (1999). Fairy Shrimps of California's Puddles, Pools, and Playas. Mad River Press Inc. ISBN 0-916422-83-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)