Why are they called sea monkeys?

"Sea monkeys" aren't actually monkeys at all! They're a type of brine shrimp, a tiny crustacean that's more closely related to lobsters and crabs than monkeys.

They were given the name "sea monkeys" by the toy company that sells them as a novelty pet. The name was chosen because it's catchy, fun, and evokes images of cute, miniature monkeys.

However, the scientific name for these creatures is *Artemia salina*.