Branchinella thailandensis, commonly known as the Thai fairy shrimp, belongs to the family Thamnocephidae. This species can be found in a diverse range of habitats, including ephemeral pools, predominantly during the warmer seasons of the year. It can be frequently observed in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand.
Anatomy: The characteristics outlined below may exhibit variations influenced by environmental conditions, population dynamics, and the organism's age.
Head:
Second Antenna:
Male: The second antennae are modified to act as claspers and have a middle appendage. The far segment of the antenna is sickle-shaped with a rounded triangular tip, and the middle appendage has 9-11 long fleshy bumps. The head has a front appendage with two branches at the far end.
Female: The second antennae are smaller, broad, oval, flattened, and smooth, with no protrusions.
Thorax:
Dorsolateral Process (Lobes):
The thoracic segments are smooth and without lobes.
Thoracopods:
The structure is comparable across sexes, characterized by delicate setae along the limb's edges.
Reproductive Segments:
Male: A pair of penises.
Female: The female shrimp's reproductive system primarily consists of a pair of ovaries and a single egg-carrying pouch (brood pouch). The ovaries, ribbon-like and biramous, extend along the thoracic, genital, and abdominal regions, flanking the digestive tract. The thoracic branches of the ovaries extend to the thorax's first segment, while the abdominal branches reach the abdomen's seventh segment (Plodsomboon, Sutthana, et al., 2012).
Abdomen:
Uniform across sexes without distinctive characteristics.
Telson & Cercopods:
The cercopods, or tail appendages, feature bristles along their inner and lateral margins, exhibiting pigmentation that ranges from red to orange.
Egg:
The egg, or the closed sac-like structure, has a surface that is decorated with dips (indentations) and raised lines (ridges). It is round in shape and has rib-like structures that form many-sided (polygonal) areas.
Morphology:
Size: 2.0cm to 2.5cm in length, contingent on prevailing environmental conditions.
Coloration: Body is transparent but may have hues of blue, pink, green.
Captivity and Growth:
Growth is influenced by multiple factors such as temperature, salinity, and care. These temperature ranges are based on our experience but do not represent the maximum or minimum.
Hatching Temperature Range: 68 to 78°F.
Temperature Range for Adults: 68 to 78°F.
Hatching: At temperatures of 72 to 78 Fahrenheit, nauplii appear after 24 to 48 hours.
Growth Rate: This species has a moderate growth rate, reaching sexual maturity at around 10 to 14 days, with an average life span of 8 to 10 weeks.
Behavior: This species prefers to swim in open water, feeding on microorganisms in the water column, and is constantly swimming more or less in a stationary manner.
Reproduction: Males use their second antenna and cephalic appendages to latch onto the females, taking only a few seconds to mate.
References:
Plodsomboon, Sutthana, et al. "Reproductive Cycle and Genitalia of the Fairy Shrimp Branchinella thailandensis (Branchiopoda: Anostraca)." Journal of Crustacean Biology, vol. 32, no. 5, 2012, pp. 711-726.
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