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Sea-Monkeys is the marketing term for a common type of sea creature: brine shrimp. As a product, Sea-Monkeys were first sold in 1950s. Sea-Monkeys are sold in packets of dust comprised of brine shrimp eggs in suspended animation. The process used to create these creatures is proprietary.

Despite their name, they're not . Sea-Monkeys are a hybrid breed of brine shrimp called Artemia NYOS produced in 1957 by Harold von Braunhut, according to the journal American Entomologist. Initially marketed as "Instant Life," Sea-Monkeys are sold in hatching kits as novelty aquarium pets.

The inspiration behind Sea-Monkeys came from a trip to a pet store, according to the Sea-Monkeys website. Von Braunhut saw brine shrimp being used as fish food and wondered whether they could be used to teach children about nature. He conducted experiments to find ways to preserve the brine shrimp and then bring them back to life.

According to EMBO Reports, the creatures, which have vaguely monkey-like tails that inspire the moniker, are derived from crustaceans that undergo "cryptobiosis." Cryptobiosis is a state of suspended animation that some creatures, such as tardigrades, can enter in times of adverse environmental conditions. Creatures can stay in this state indefinitely, then reanimate when conditions improve.

(Image credit: Nora Peevy/Getty)

When a person buys a packet of Sea-Monkeys, they appear to be lifeless dust. But when the dust is put into a tank of purified water, the Sea-Monkeys gradually emerge. They grow steadily over the next few weeks, feeding on a diet of yeast and , according to the Microscopy Society of America (MSA).

Sea-Monkeys are born with one eye, and pop out two more upon reaching maturity, according to the journal Evolutionary Biology. They're translucent, and breathe through their feathery feet. They can reproduce sexually or asexually, and they chase flashlight beams.

(Image credit: NNehring/Getty)

Although Sea-Monkeys are not found in nature, other brine shrimp are. Artemia NYOS are a hybrid of Artemia salina, according to the book Reproductive Biology of Crustaceans.

Artemia salina live in highly salty environments, such as brine pools, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica. They display similar leaflike limbs to Sea-Monkeys, which they beat to move. When they are freeze dried, Artemia salina eggs can last for several years, according to the book Medicinal Plant Research in Africa.

Additional resources

You can read more about brine shrimp in this publication by the British Ecological Society. Additionally, for tips about looking after Sea-Monkeys, read the Sea-Monkey Handbook.

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Sea-monkeys is the marketing term used for a hybrid breed of brine shrimp sold in packets of dust in aquarium shops.

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Animal Adaptations: StudyJams! Science | Scholastic.com

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Through adaptations, animals develop certain features to survive in their environments. Students learn about these features and how they're passed on to future generations.

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4th and 5th Grade Animal Adaptations WebQuest

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You and your teammates are now apart of a research team of zoologists. A zoologist is a scientist that studies all about animals and how they live. Your research team has recently discovered a new...

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Science Unit: Our Fragile Environment - BrainPOP

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adaptation adaptations biomes animals plants

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Animal and Plant Adaptations - TeacherTube

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This slideshow discusses the need for plants

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SchoolMedia Interactive - Animal Adaptations

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Welcome to Camp Wilderness! Join Counselor Tom and the campers of Team Five as they travel through the animal kingdom and learn about the adaptations animals have make in order to live and prosper. Covers both the physical and behavioral adaptations of animals in regard to getting food, water, oxygen, protection from predators, shelter, and reproduction.

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Or why some of them are really good at hiding or running fast? It didn't happen by accident, it is all to do with adapting or changing to fit into your environment better.

If an animal is born with something useful to fit their environment, for example they can run really fast, they will probably stay alive for a lot longer. If they stay alive longer there is more chance they will reproduce (have babies). Their babies will then also be able to run faster so they will live longer. Then slowly all of those animals will be able to run really fast.

Get it? Here is an example: giraffes didn't always have such long necks. The giraffe's with the longer necks were able to reach more food, so these giraffes lived for longer. Because they lived for longer they had more babies who also had long necks. Then giraffes with shorter necks would die out and giraffes would be known for having very long necks. But they changed or adapted they weren't always like that!

Even the animals and insects in your garden have adaptations. Try going into your garden and taking photos of insects, or animals, or even plants, and think about how they have adapted to their environment. Send your pictures in to us here along with how you think they have adapted.

You can also play our adaption game, take a photo of the animal and then choose how it has adapted to the environment.

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Or why some of them are really good at hiding or running fast? It didn't happen by accident, it is all to do with adapting or changing to fit into your environment better. If an animal is born with something useful to fit their environment, for example they can run really fast, they will probably stay alive for a lot longer.

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Interactive Learning Sites for Education

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Interactive Learning Sites for Education