Branchiopoda is a group of primarily fresh watercrustaceans, mostly resembling shrimp. A few are well-known, including the Artemia (brine shrimp, called Sea MonkeysŪ when marketed as novelties), and Daphnia, both of which are raised as aquarium food or as interesting pets in and of themselves.
Order Anostraca (fairy shrimps)
Order Notostracans (tadpole shrimps, often called Shield shrimps or Dinosaur shrimps)
Branchiopods in general are equipped with a ventral food groove, useful for suspension and filter feeding.
The water current in the ventral food groove, used for breathing and feeding in most species, are producing by a battery of unspecialised legs.
The small branchiopods, mostly represented by water fleas, have succeeded in becoming zooplankton in such a degree that waters filled with fish and other threats are no longer a problem.
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