Three-eyed dinosaur shrimp - 'living fossil' is causing a 'fever' in the research world!

Three-eyed dinosaur shrimp, also known as long-tailed tadpole shrimp, this creature has lived on Earth for 300 million years .

Characteristics and special living conditions of three-eyed dinosaur shrimp

Three hundred million years ago, a strange creature was born on Earth – the three-eyed dinosaur shrimp (scientific name Triops longicaudatus , also known as American tadpole shrimp, rice tadpole shrimp ). And to this day, they still exist and are considered a living fossil because their basic prehistoric morphology has changed very little in the past 70 million years. With its unique characteristics and tenacious survival ability, this creature became a witness to the age of dinosaurs and represented the miracle of survival in ancient times.

The most prominent feature of the three-eyed dinosaur shrimp is that it has three eyes on its head , two eyes located on both sides of the head and the third eye located on the top of the head. This structure allows the three-eyed dinosaur shrimp to improve its ability to observe and react to the outside world. Three-eyed dinosaur shrimp also have a hard exoskeleton and strong claws, helping them better adapt to the complex underwater environment.

Living fossils have attracted the attention of scientists because of their importance in biological evolution, changes in Earth's environment, and biodiversity research. (Photo: Zhihu).

With its unique appearance and adaptability, the three-eyed dinosaur shrimp had a huge survival advantage in the age of dinosaurs. The presence of three eyes allows it to better perceive potential dangers and opportunities, and is capable of early warning of threats from predators. Its hard exoskeleton provides sturdy protection, while its strong claws allow it to hunt better and adapt to its environment.

Shrimp with eggs can live 50 years without water

Dinosaur shrimp can secrete trehalose – a water-repellent sugar that helps them keep their eggs safe in the water. If the habitat is not depleted, the eggs will hatch into offspring, continuing the life cycle. On the contrary, they will maintain their state until they encounter suitable conditions. Their eggs are super hardy, able to withstand all harsh conditions, whether heat, freezing or lack of oxygen. If eggs are laid in the desert, even under heat up to 98 degrees Celsius, their eggs can withstand up to 16 hours of heat, while in the range of 40-50 degrees Celsius, the eggs are not affected at all.

Dinosaur shrimp can reproduce both unisexually and bisexually. (Photo: Pinterest).

In particular, dinosaur shrimp eggs can survive for 50 years without water. After that, the dinosaur shrimp eggs are still "alive", until it rains and there is water, then they will hatch. After hatching, they eat every smaller creature in sight, eating 40% of their body weight each day. Because they eat continuously, they grow very quickly. When newly hatched, dinosaur shrimp are only 1.8mm long at most, but after 4 days they are 6.4mm long. In about 2-3 weeks, baby dinosaur shrimp will mature and be ready for reproduction.

Three-eyed dinosaur shrimp also has strong reproductive and adaptive abilities. They can reproduce quickly and adapt to changes in the marine environment and different food sources. This characteristic allowed them to both survive and reproduce in large numbers during the age of dinosaurs.

As a representative of the creatures of the age of dinosaurs, the three-eyed dinosaur shrimp has become a witness to the miraculous survival of ancient creatures with unique characteristics and adaptations. Their existence reveals the diversity and complexity of ecosystems during the age of the dinosaurs, and provides important clues to our understanding of ancient Earth's environment.

Through research on three-eyed dinosaur shrimp, we can better understand the evolutionary path of creatures in Earth's history, while also providing useful insights for protecting modern creatures. era and the future development of organisms.

Through studying living fossils, we can gain a deeper understanding of the evolution of life as well as the changes and evolution of the Earth's environment, contributing to progress and sustainable development. of humanity. (Photo: Zhihu).

Meaning and research value of living fossils

Living fossils are close relatives or direct descendants of some type of extinct organism on Earth, their remaining forms are very similar to ancient species and therefore they are called "fossils". living". Living fossils have naturally attracted the attention of scientists because of their persistence on geologic time scales and their importance in studying biological evolution and environmental change.

Living fossils can provide important clues to studying biological evolution. By comparing the differences in anatomy, genome, etc. between modern living fossils and their ancient relatives, scientists can reveal the laws of adaptation of organisms to changes in the environment. environment and evolutionary development.

The three-eyed dinosaur shrimp is one of the oldest creatures on Earth , and its living fossils can provide a wealth of information about changes in the marine environment and the species' ability to adapt. Living fossils provide important support for the study of phylogenetic evolution and biological taxonomy, helping scientists clarify biological relationships and infer the origin and evolutionary history of living organisms. species.

Living fossils record geological and climatic changes over the past million years or more, helping us reconstruct the ecosystems of ancient Earth. For example, ancient fish fossils can provide valuable information about water quality and the ancient aquatic environment, helping scientists understand the ecological evolution and environmental change of ancient waters. modern, including land uplift and subsidence, climate change, etc

The three-eyed dinosaur shrimp developed a unique but surprising feature during evolution: a third eye. (Photo: Zhihu).

Living fossils are also of great significance for biodiversity research. Living fossil populations are often 'survivors' of specific environmental conditions and are able to adapt to environmental changes and survive mass extinction events. By studying living fossils, scientists can reveal how species respond to environmental changes and extinction events, helping us better understand the origins and mechanisms that maintain diversity. biology.

Living fossils are valuable natural and cultural heritage on Earth, their existence has irreplaceable significance for humanity to understand the origin of life and the Earth's evolution. Protecting and studying living fossils can not only promote scientific progress but also help raise people's awareness of ecological environment protection and promote sustainable development.

The third eye of the three-eyed dinosaur shrimp is located in the middle of the head. This eye can sense radiation such as ultraviolet and infrared rays, providing wider vision and sharper perception. (Photo: Zhihu).

The process of understanding the three-eyed dinosaur shrimp has implications for the evolution of life on Earth

There are many types of organisms on Earth and the evolution of organisms is a continuous process. Relics of the age of dinosaurs allow us to glimpse the mysteries of the creatures of the age of dinosaurs, and the recently discovered three-eyed dinosaur shrimp has given us new thoughts about the past. evolution of life on Earth. This strange creature has sparked extensive scientific discussions and shed new light on our understanding of biological evolution.

The three-eyed dinosaur shrimp developed a unique but surprising feature during evolution: a third eye . This characteristic demonstrates the enormous diversity that evolution has created in the form and function of organisms. It reminds us that evolution is a multidimensional process, and that while organisms adapt to their environment, they also develop new characteristics in response to environmental changes.

The third eye of the three-eyed dinosaur shrimp is located in the middle of the head. This eye can sense radiation such as ultraviolet and infrared rays, providing wider vision and sharper perception. This allows it to better find food and avoid predators in complex environments. This characteristic reveals the organism's ability to adapt to the environment during the evolutionary process, while improving its ability to survive by adapting to environmental changes.

During evolution, organisms adapt to environmental changes through morphological changes to maintain ecological balance. (Photo: Zhihu).

The characteristics of the three-eyed dinosaur shrimp are not just individual manifestations but the result of genetic mechanisms. Scientists have discovered a genetic mutation that causes changes in the shape and function of the eye. The discovery and analysis of this genetic mechanism provides valuable clues for us to study the genetic basis of biological evolution, and also helps us better understand the mechanism of biological evolution. learn.

The appearance of the three-eyed dinosaur shrimp reminds us that biodiversity and adaptability are vital to maintaining the stability and health of ecosystems. If one species cannot adapt due to environmental changes, the entire ecosystem can be affected, causing the ecological balance to be disrupted.

The discovery of three-eyed dinosaur shrimp brings a new perspective for us to explore the evolution of life on Earth. By in-depth research on the morphology, characteristics and genetic mechanisms of this special organism, we can better understand the importance of diversity, adaptability and ecological balance in evolution. biology.