Do You Believe in Fairies?
- Caleb Venturo
- Aug 30
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 9
High in the mountains, hidden in small pockets and nooks in the rocks and grass, there are puddles of water. At first glance, these puddles may seem empty and devoid of life. But if you look a little closer, peer deeper into these seemingly desolate waters, you will find that they are simply teeming with life.
What kind of creatures could survive so high in the mountains in puddles that are likely to dry up if there isn’t enough rain?
The answer is a strange animal called the fairy shrimp.
Fairy shrimp are small, bug-like creatures that swim upside down. The kind we saw lives in alpine lakes and puddles. Their life cycle is interesting.
First, the adult fairy shrimp lay eggs where they live. This could be a puddle, a pond, or a ditch. These eggs can survive drying out (called desiccation) and extreme temperatures. They can even survive in the gut of animals!
Next, the eggs are carried, either by wind or other animals, to a different place. When the eggs hatch, there are more fairy shrimp in a new puddle. If the puddle dries up, the shrimp can survive until it rains again.
A fairy shrimp’s legs can be used in many ways: for swimming, breathing, and eating. Some predators of fairy shrimp include wading birds, fish, amphibians, small crustaceans called amphipods, and even some insects. Native Americans actually used to eat them as well!
So you see, even in remote, deserted places where it seems like there is no way to survive, God has given some animals what they need in order to live. Wherever you live, take some time to look for these animals. You might be surprised where you find them!
Artwork by Caleb Venturo
Information from: https://fairyshrimpchronicles.net/fishless/
