New Fairy Shrimp Species (eat this, anti-evolutionists) [View All]

[renaissanceguy]

New Fairy Shrimp Species Found in Idaho

By REBECCA BOONE, Associated Press Writer

BOISE, Idaho - Biologists with the Idaho National Guard have discovered a new species of fairy shrimp living in the oft-dry lake beds of Idaho's desert.

Though they look delicate enough to match their name, they are strong enough to survive, unhatched, for years in the baking heat of summer and the frozen tundra of winter until enough rain falls and the pools return. Once they awaken they live a few frenzied weeks, mating and leaving behind tiny cyst-like offspring, and die.

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The shrimp have apparently evolved ways to deal with a scarce food source. When the playas begin to run out of the tinier shrimp, they catch and store their prey for future eating.

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