Results from our Fairy Shrimp survey quadrupled the number of species known in Vermont…from one to four. Previously, the Knob-lipped Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus bundyi) was the only species confirmed in Vermont. We suspected the state had additional species, and we now know Vermont also hosts the Smooth-lipped Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus intricatus), Springtime Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus vernalis), and Ethologist Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus serratus). Learn more about fairy shrimp natural history and this inventory project in the video below.
Results
We sampled fairy shrimp at 32 vernal pools across Vermont. We discovered Smooth-lipped Fairy Shrimp at 9 pools in Pomfret, Sharon, Strafford, Calais, and Berlin. The Knob-lipped Fairy Shrimp was more widespread, occupying 23 pools from the Champlain Islands, west to Danville, and south to Woodstock. Both Springtime and Ethologist Fairy Shrimp were both discovered at one site each in Windham and Chittenden Counties, respectively.
We are hoping to eventually find the Holman Fairy Shrimp (E. holmanii), which has been documented in New York, Connecticut, and Quebec.
Vermont Records
You can view and download all of the Vermont fairy shrimp primary occurrence records from the VAL Data Explorer.
