What is a brine shrimp?
Q: What is a brine shrimp?
A: Brine shrimp are small shrimp that live in salt water. They belong to the genus Artemia, which has not changed much since the Triassic period.
Q: Where can brine shrimp be found?
A: Brine shrimp can often be found in saltwater ponds and marshes, but cannot survive for long periods of time in fresh water.
Q: What is the salinity level that brine shrimp prefer?
A: The optimum salinity level for Artemia is 100 to 150 parts per thousand.
Q: How big do brine shrimp grow?
A: Brine shrimp typically grow to about one centimeter long, with females being larger than males.
Q: How does a brine shrimp's circulatory and respiratory systems work together?
A: The circulatory and respiratory systems of a brine shrimp work together to remove extra salt from their body and distribute oxygen throughout their bodies. Oxygen enters through gills on their feet, while excess salt, water, and carbon dioxide are pumped out through exocrine glands.
Q: What makes up a brine shrimps' body structure?
A: A brine shrimps' body consists of a head, thorax, and abdomen covered by an exoskeleton made of chitin. Muscles are located inside this exoskeleton which allows them to move by beating their tails or using the continuous movement of their legs along their body.
Q: How does hemoglobin help a brine shrimps' survival in salty waters?
A: Hemoglobin is a protein found in the blood of brine shrimps which helps oxygen to be more efficiently transported around its body even when oxygen levels are low due to high salinity levels in its environment.
