FOOD AND FEEDING 



Natural Food. The live food consists of the following Crus- 

 tacean denizens of still water ditches, ponds and streams, which are 

 classified as follows: 



Phyllopoda. 



Entomostraca ^ 



Branchiopoda. 

 Cladocera. 

 Ostrocoda. 

 Copopoda. 



Crusta 



Malacostraca 



C Amphipoda. 

 I Isopoda. 

 (^ Decapoda. 



Entomostraca. This sub-class of the Crustaceans are simple organ- 

 isms usually of small, often microscopic size. Order Phyllopoda. Body 

 segmented, covered with a carapace, swimming feet with branchial sacs, man- 

 dables without feelers, and reduced maxillse. Sub-order Branchiopoda. 

 Body distinctly segmental, numerous pairs of swimming feet, shieldshaped 

 carapace, heart an elongated dorsal vessel with numerous pairs of ostia. 



Branchipus Stagnalis. Fig. 64. This freshwater Crustacean, known 

 as the Spring-time shrimp, reaches a length of 1.5 to 2 centimeters. The 

 body is covered with a segmental mantle, the head is large and the abdomen 

 furnished with caudal appendages. It has eleven pairs of 

 legs, furnished with breathing and swimming hairs, 

 two pairs of antennae, and a lengthened caudal appendage 

 with swimming bristles. The crablike eyes are large and 

 distinct. The almost transparent body is of bluish-green 

 color on the back, the head, sides of the abdomen and 

 the swimming bristles yellow, the antennte and caudal 

 appendages red, and the eyes black. Its food consists of 

 tiny water animalculae and algae, but it will attack spawn 

 and young fishes. It usually swims on its back and is 



FIG. 64. Branchipus "^''^'' ^^ '■^^^' ^^^ movement is eratic, either by quick 

 stagnalis. Greatly enlarged, strokes of the legs or by Springs in the water by means 

 of a rapid movement of the abdomen. A good food for adult goldfishes, 

 and other freshwater fishes. 



Apus Cancriformus. Fig. 65. This freshwater Crustacean may 

 occur in great numbers or entirely disappear for years. In form it re- 

 sembles the Limulus or King Crab in miniature, as it never exceeds* 

 3 centimeters in length. The body is flat, covered by a shieldlike mantle, 

 and the slender tail is as long as the body. On the shell there are two 



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