Tadpole shrimp are ancient crustaceans that have existed for over 300 million years, meaning they lived alongside dinosaurs. They belong to the order Notostraca and are known for their shield-like carapace, which gives them a prehistoric look. They live in temporary freshwater pools, hatching from eggs that can survive years of drought. Once water returns, they grow quickly, sometimes reaching 10 cm (4 inches) in length. Despite their name, they are not true shrimp but are more closely related t

Armed with the most sophisticated vision and fastest strike of any predator on Earth, the mantis shrimp is an unsuspecting threat. | National Geographic