Book 16, Question 81
Why Do Fairy Shrimp Hatch From Dry Dust After a Rain?
Fairy shrimp hatch from dry dust after a rain, because their eggs are made to wait! The eggs have thick shells and can sit dry for many years. Rain fills a puddle, and the eggs wake up.
More fun facts
- Fairy shrimp are inch-long crustaceans that live in pools that fill with rain and later dry up.
- They lay eggs, called cysts, that can survive when the pool dries.
- Fairy shrimp have evolved to need the dry-out, not just survive it.
- Not all their eggs hatch in the same year.
- Laying two types of eggs helps fairy shrimp hedge their bets.
Sources: National Geographic, National Geographic, National Geographic
Questions kids ask
Do fairy shrimp eggs need to dry out?
Yes. Fairy shrimp have evolved to need a summer dry-out.