Triops cancriformis

Triops cancriformis, commonly known as the tadpole shrimp, is a small crustacean belonging to the order Notostraca. These freshwater animals, found primarily in Europe and North America, inhabit lakes, ponds, and temporary pools. They are characterized by a distinctive body shape, featuring a large, oval, shell-like carapace and a slender abdomen with a forked tail.1

Tadpole shrimp typically live at the bottom of water bodies, where they consume organic debris or prey on small aquatic animals and larvae. Their eggs are remarkably resistant to drying out and can remain viable in soil for many years, hatching when the pools are refilled with water. The genus Triops is distinguished by a small, third median eye on its head.12