Anostraca is one of the four orders of crustaceans in the class Branchiopoda; its members are also known as fairy shrimp.

They are usually 6–25 mm (0.24–0.98 in) long (exceptionally up to 170 mm or 6.7 in). Most species have 20 body segments, bearing 11 pairs of leaf-like phyllopodia (swimming legs), and the body lacks a carapace. They live in vernal pools and hypersaline lakes across the world, including pools in deserts, in ice-covered mountain lakes and in Antarctica. They swim "upside-down" and feed by filtering organic particles from the water or by scraping algae from surfaces. They are an important food for many birds and fish and are cultured and harvested for use as fish food. There are 300 species spread across 8 families.

Recently, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) and enthusiastic volunteers in Caofeidian District, Tangshan City, Hebei Province, reached a preliminary cooperation intention on the establishment of the CBCGDF Community Conservation Area for fairy shrimp (CCAfa).

Fairy shrimp, as a basic organism in the food chain, plays an important role in purifying water quality and stabilizing the ecosystem, and has significant ecological benefits. Therefore, CBCGDF hopes to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable development through the establishment of this community conservation area!

(Photo source: Internet)

Original Chinese article:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/rtMowSf3Fy16Wj943YKWFQ