“This is the second time such a species of fairy shrimp has been discovered in Taiwan,” NMMBA researcher Ju Yu-min said. “We are extremely thrilled with the find and cannot wait to launch a comprehensive study of the creature.”
According to Ju, the species found on Xiaolanyu is very different from the one made 10 years ago at Yangmingshan National Park in Taipei City. “It is smaller in size and the eggs are in the shape of a pyramid as opposed to being round.”
The eggs were recovered from volcanic soil samples collected during the team’s recent visit to the 1.75-square-kilometer island located 3 nautical miles southeast of Orchid Island off the coast of Taitung County.
Upon returning to NMMBA in Pingtung County, the team searched the database of U.S.-based National Center for Biotechnology Information to help shed light on the discovery. It was found that the species on Xiaolanyu is similar to those in Queensland, Australia.
“The existence of the creature dates back 200 million years ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth,” Ju said. “Such durability can be attributed to the quality of its eggs, which can withstand extreme temperatures and hatch even a decade after being laid.”
Branchinella thailandensis has a lifespan of two to three months and is found in freshwater pools throughout Asia. (DF-JSM)
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