Branchinecta

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Branchinecta is a group of small freshwater animals called fairy shrimp. They are part of the family Branchinectidae and include about 50 species found all over the world except Australia.

The largest member is Branchinecta gigas, which can grow up to 10 centimeters long.

Branchinecta brushi lives at incredibly high altitudes, up to about 5,930 meters (19,460 feet) — a record it shares with the crustacean Boeckella palustris.

In 2011, two species that were once placed in Branchinecta were moved to a new genus called Archaebranchinecta.