Very Old Life
May 2nd, 2010 by timbotronMeet some of the most ancient living species on the planet: Triops.
(photo: Triops World)
The order of life they belong to, Notostraca, has been on the planet since the Upper Cambrian Era (542 million years ago), and at least one species of Triops, Triops cancriformis, has remained unchanged since the Upper Triassic (220 million years ago).
These ancient creatures, often called “Tadpole Shrimp,” are siblings to modern crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, shrimp). They are incredibly resilient: their eggs can withstand drought, can survive dried for 25 years, and can survive temperatures of 176ºF. Some species of Triops are exclusively female – bearing “hermaphroditic” glands which allow them to self-fertilize. Oddity Bonus Round: they are called “Triops” because they have three eyes – two compound eyes near the front of their heads, and a third central “naupliar” eye which allows them to detect light overhead.
There are a number of Triops science kits available, where these amazing creatures can be grown similarly to “Sea Monkeys.” I have recently purchased a kit and I will be posting the results of the Blogadilla Triops Research Laboratory on our site, stay tuned.
Third Eye Bonus Round:
• The awesome Taiwanese site “Triops World.”
• A recent giant (8 in) species of Triops found in the Ukraine: LINK.
