The so-called nauplius larvae of the fairy and tadpole shrimp resemble those of the more familiar copepods e.g. cyclops, except the former commonly exhibit beginnings of the trunk segments. Dark-field illumination works well to show the larvae's red eyespot, although depth of field is low with the condenser diaphragm wide open. These stills don't really capture this creature's delicate and graceful form. The author doesn't have a low power darkfield facility but fairy shrimp could look good in this type of illumination. 2mm after six days.
Adults depending on species can grow up to ca.
The adult can grow up to ca. Images of cast-off skin from adult Triops . These are wonderful subjects for both the stereo and low to medium powers of the compound microscope. Almost every external detail of the shell, limbs, mouthparts, antennae etc from the living adult are retained. So the cast-offs are a good opportunity to study these features without killing Triops specimens.