Tag: Eubranchipus

People sometimes call the mushroom Entoloma abortivum “shrimp of the woods”  because they supposedly taste like shrimp.  I personally think they have more of a shrimp like texture than taste…but either way I am not talking about shrimp of the woods, I am talking about actual shrimp living in the actual woods.  Often called Fairy Shrimp, members of the Eubranchipus species live in vernal pools, ephemeral ponds that exist between snow thaw and summer heat.  These improbable creatures hatch, mature, mate, and lay eggs before the tadpoles hatch, before the water gets above 50 degrees F, and those eggs can survive the pools completely drying out until the next time the pool fills up.

If you are lucky enough to live near the Middlesex Fells you can go see them RIGHT NOW.  They often hatch before the ice has even thawed, and grow rapidly reaching full size of almost an inch long.  They swim upside down, and have a very distinctive swimming pattern, waving their many legs in a undulating pattern that reminds me of the way millipedes walk.

I can’t really explain just how fantastical these creatures are, they live in the woods far from the ocean far from any lakes or ponds.  Discovering them feels like happening upon a unicorn, or a dragon, some kind of mythical beast.  I want to tell the world about these magical little creatures.  “HEY THERE ARE SHRIMP IN THIS PUDDLE! EVERYONE COME LOOK AT THIS!”

Vernal pools are often full of sticks, leaves, and all sorts of other small creatures, so it can take a bit to get your “shrimp eyes” but once you do you will see one, then two, then three, then a dozen, then hundreds.  So what do these little weirdos look like, and where can you go see them RIGHT NOW (really do yourself a favor and go take a look).

They are very hard to take pictures of, so please forgive any blur.

If you want to go see them for yourself here is a basic location of several vernal pools where they will live until the water warms up, or the tadpoles hatch and eat them.

Take the quarry road trail and look for shallow vernal pools along right hand side (if you are traveling north) tucked into the old quarry that used to exist there.  You will see them surrounded by big cut stones as well as more natural ones.  Approach slowly so you don’t startle them (or fall in the pool…the water is very cold).  Find a rock, and sit and look at the water.  You will often see the shadow of a shrimp first, traveling along the leaves under the surface.  Use those shadows to find the tiny, translucent shrimp swimming upside down lazily through the water.  You can also use your own shadow and by moving your head around to lock in your “shrimp eyes.”  Once you see one you will see more.  Take kids and show them as well, nothing makes a kid more confused and delighted than a sea creature living out in the middle of the woods.  They will want to go back next year to find them again.  It will mark the seasons for them, and for you!

These pools are so fragile, so make sure you don’t spill dirt into them, and pick up any trash you might see around, pull up some garlic mustard on your way to and from the pools, and impart to any children you bring how important and magical these little creatures are.