Body Parts of a Triops

For being a small crustacean -- 3 inches in length by the time it reaches adulthood -- Triops holds a huge fascination for scientists and biology students. A triops, also called a tadpole shrimp, has two main body parts divided into seven subparts. Most of the Triops' body, except for its head and tail, is covered with a large dorsal carapace, a protective shell.

  1. Head and Head Appendages

    • The head consists of three eyes, a naupliar eye situated deep in the head and centered above two compound eyes -- hence the name Triops. Located beneath the eyes, the mouth consists of a mandibular groove and a ventral food groove called the cervical groove. Two antennas and a mandible, or jawbone, with well-developed brownish-yellow teeth make up the head appendage.

    Trunk and Trunk Appendages

    • Biologists continue to debate over the body parts and appendages of the Triops. Specifically, many disagree about where the thorax ends and abdomen begins. Some scientists contend that the thorax has two regions of appendages while others believe the abdomen is without appendages. These appendages help the Triops stir up sand, attack prey, gather and digest food, breathe and produce offspring. The male Triops has two to 10 appendages. The female has two to 11, including a brood pouch.

    Feeding

    • The Triops uses four appendages called endites to help manipulate food to its mouth. It uses antenna-like appendages called flat exopods to stir the sand and another lifts the food to the ventral groove. Once the Triop zeros in on its prey, it quickly leaps onto it and uses sharp, blade-like appendages to shred the food. The Triops' main diet consists of oligochaete worms, a type of aquatic worm, insect larva, algae and tadpoles, including Triops tadpoles because they are cannibalistic. They don't prey on any species bigger than themselves.

    Reproduction

    • Female Triops rule the water kingdom because males are rare. Triops reproduce through parthenogenesis, meaning the growth and development of embryos can take place without fertilization by a male. In the warm, summer months, females produce eggs with thin shells. In the winter months females produce thick-shelled eggs so they'll survive long droughts and freezing temperatures.