Branchinecta ferox

Branchinecta ferox is a species of fairy shrimp, which are crustaceans belonging to the order Anostraca. These graceful, often pastel-colored creatures can grow up to 2.5 cm (about 1 inch) in length and are found in freshwater ponds across Europe, Central Asia, western North America, Africa, and Australia.1

Fairy shrimp are a type of branchiopod, a diverse group of aquatic crustaceans with a fossil record dating back to the Devonian period. While some branchiopods, like fairy shrimp, inhabit temporary pools, others are found in nearly all freshwater environments. The largest living branchiopod is Branchinecta gigas, another fairy shrimp species that can reach 10 cm (3.9 inches).2

Young Branchinecta ferox feed on small particles, but as they mature, they become predators.2