The Otter and the Fairy Shrimp

This book presents information on common-to-rare organisms from around the world that inhabit freshwater habitats. The first six chapters focus on organisms from the very small (e.g., protozoa, zooplankton, and fairy shrimp) to the huge (e.g., hippos, freshwater sharks, and giant turtles), while the last four chapters provide information on aquatic ecosystems (lakes, streams, caves, and wetlands). Included in this last section are the physical nature of the system and how that influences the kinds of animals living there. This unique nature book, incorporating information from around the world on both aquatic systems and organisms, is written to attract the interest of a wide group of non-academic readers.

James Thorp received a Masters degree for freshwater work on green hydra and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University, with his dissertation focused on marine biology and estuarine grass shrimp. He has more than a dozen books authored or edited on freshwater invertebrates from around the world and has published more than 150 scientific articles in journals and books. He received a lifetime achievement award (SFS Fellow Award) in 2023 from the international Society for Freshwater Science.