What Is a Fairy Shrimp and How Does Its Eggs Wait for Years to Hatch? Lesson 72

04/22/25 • 26 min

Nat Theo Nature Lessons Rooted in the Bible

This is no fairy tale... this is a fairy shrimp! Discover an amazing creature that makes its home in seasonal vernal ponds and whose eggs can wait for years, or even centuries, to hatch!

Here’s our trail map:

What Is a Vernal Pond?
What Is a Fairy Shrimp?
Where Do Fairy Shrimp Come From?
How Did God Design Fairy Shrimp to Thrive Through Rest?
How Can We Wait and Rest Well?

Episode Links:

Order Eryn’s book: The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891

Plan Your Visit to the Family Adventure Days at the Creation Museum: CreationMuseum.org/family-days

Discover God’s wild and wonderful world with the Kids Answers magazine by Answers in Genesis: GetAnswers.org/kids

Eryn’s Fairy Shrimp Video: https://www.instagram.com/erynlynumauthor/reel/CuZtkzvgsqB/

Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos

Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club

Free Vernal Pond Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/fairy-shrimp-facts-for-kids/

Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask

Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Some of the resources used for research:

https://www.vernalpool.org/fairy-shrimp

https://coloradostories.online/colorado-connie-blog/f/in-search-of-colorado-fairy-shrimp

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“Then God said, ‘Let the water be filled with living things...’” Genesis 1:20 (NCV)

“Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.” Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

“They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength...” Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Vernal Pond: Temporary seasonal pond that forms when rainwater fills an area during wet seasons.

Habitat: An area where something living makes its home. It’s an area that provides what that living thing needs to survive including food, water, shelter, and a mate.

Invertebrates: Creatures that do not have a backbone or bony skeleton.

Fairy Shrimp: Small, see-through crustaceans that live in freshwater vernal ponds.

Dormant: When something is not active or growing. But it could become active and keep growing in the future.

This podcast episode contains paid advertisements.

Mentioned in this episode:

NOR Series Final April 21 - May

This is no fairy tale... this is a fairy shrimp! Discover an amazing creature that makes its home in seasonal vernal ponds and whose eggs can wait for years, or even centuries, to hatch!

Here’s our trail map:

What Is a Vernal Pond?
What Is a Fairy Shrimp?
Where Do Fairy Shrimp Come From?
How Did God Design Fairy Shrimp to Thrive Through Rest?
How Can We Wait and Rest Well?

Episode Links:

Order Eryn’s book: The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891

Plan Your Visit to the Family Adventure Days at the Creation Museum: CreationMuseum.org/family-days

Discover God’s wild and wonderful world with the Kids Answers magazine by Answers in Genesis: GetAnswers.org/kids

Eryn’s Fairy Shrimp Video: https://www.instagram.com/erynlynumauthor/reel/CuZtkzvgsqB/

Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos

Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club

Free Vernal Pond Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/fairy-shrimp-facts-for-kids/

Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask

Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Some of the resources used for research:

https://www.vernalpool.org/fairy-shrimp

https://coloradostories.online/colorado-connie-blog/f/in-search-of-colorado-fairy-shrimp

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“Then God said, ‘Let the water be filled with living things...’” Genesis 1:20 (NCV)

“Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.” Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

“They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength...” Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Vernal Pond: Temporary seasonal pond that forms when rainwater fills an area during wet seasons.

Habitat: An area where something living makes its home. It’s an area that provides what that living thing needs to survive including food, water, shelter, and a mate.

Invertebrates: Creatures that do not have a backbone or bony skeleton.

Fairy Shrimp: Small, see-through crustaceans that live in freshwater vernal ponds.

Dormant: When something is not active or growing. But it could become active and keep growing in the future.

This podcast episode contains paid advertisements.

Mentioned in this episode:

NOR Series Final April 21 - May

Previous Episode

How Do Pufferfish Puff Up? Lesson 71

Dive into an adventure with this listener-created lesson on pufferfish! Discover this amazing balloon-of-the-sea fish and how it inflates, along with how we can inflate our hearts with God’s love.

Here’s our trail map:

Are All Pufferfish Spikey?
Why Do Porcupine Fish Have Spikes?
How Do Puffers Puff Up?
What Do Pufferfish Eat?
Are all Pufferfish Poisonous?
How Can We Inflate Our Hearts Full of God’s Love?

Episode Links:

Order Eryn’s book: The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891

Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos

Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club

Free Pufferfish Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/pufferfish-facts-for-kids/

Plan Your Visit to the Family Adventure Days at the Creation Museum: CreationMuseum.org/family-days

Join us at the Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference! SAVE $30 USING CODE nattheo25*! https://rockymountainhomeschoolconference.com/

Discover God’s wild and wonderful world with the Kids Answers magazine by Answers in Genesis: GetAnswers.org/kids

Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask

Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Resources used for research:

American Museum of Natural History: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.amnh.org/content/download/109168/1987445/file/stepread-for-grade-4.pdf

Seattle Aquarium: https://www.seattleaquarium.org/animal/pufferfish-and-porcupinefish/

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 (NCV)

“Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19 (NCV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Pufferfish: A family of fish called Tetraodontidae known for puffing up. Some have short, prickly bumps that appear when they puff up.

Porcupinefish: A family of fish called Diodontidae. Like pufferfish, they also puff up. They have long spikes that are visible even when they are not puffed up, and that point out when they do puff up.

Tetrodotoxin (TTX): A neurotoxin present in some pufferfish, porcupinefish, triggerfish, and ocean sunfish. A very dangerous toxin with no known antidote.

Pufferfish Spines: A special type of scale on pufferfish that lays flat until the fish puffs up, which causes the spines to spike out as a defense strategy.

This podcast episode contains paid advertisements. All testimonies are the honest reviews of the host after personally using each product and service.

Mentioned in this episode:

Order Eryn's New Book, The Nature of Rest

The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891

Next Episode

How Do Bighorn Sheep Climb and Balance on Cliffs? Lesson 73

Meet the master parkour animal of the mountains: the bighorn sheep! Discover how bighorns run up steep mountains, balance on cliffs only a couple of inches wide, and find their way to safe resting places.

Here’s our trail map:

What Is a Bighorn Sheep?
Why Do Bighorn Sheep Ram Each Other?
Why and How Do Bighorn Sheep Balance on Cliffs?
How Did God Design Bighorns to Live Well Through Rest?
How Can We Follow God’s Lead When the Way Gets Tough?

Episode Links:

Order Eryn’s book: The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891
Plan Your Visit to the Family Adventure Days at the Creation Museum: CreationMuseum.org/family-days
Join us at the Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference! SAVE $30 USING CODE nattheo25*! https://rockymountainhomeschoolconference.com/
Discover God’s wild and wonderful world with the Kids Answers magazine by Answers in Genesis: GetAnswers.org/kids
Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos
Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
Free Bighorn Sheep Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/bighorn-sheep-facts-for-kids/
Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask
Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“The LORD is my shepherd;

I have everything I need.

He lets me rest in green pastures.

He leads me to calm water.” Psalm 23:1-2 (NCV)

“‘Go up to a fertile land. But I will not go with you, because I might destroy you on the way, since you are such a stubborn people.’ When the people heard this bad news, they became very sad...” Exodus 33:3-4 (NCV)

“The LORD replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” Exodus 33:14 (NIV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Ewe Bighorn: Female bighorn sheep with short horns that grow to a simple curved point above their heads.
Ram Bighorn: Male bighorn sheep with large, thick horns curling around their face.
Horn: A permanent part of the bighorn’s body. It has two main parts: a core made of bone, which we cannot see. Then, over that bone, there is a large sheath, or covering, made of a material called keratin. That is the part of the horn we see.
Keratin: A type of protein that covers bighorn sheep’s horns and makes other things in nature including hair, nails, claws, scales, feathers, horns, hooves, and even the outermost layer of our skin.
Versatile: Something that can be used for many different things.
Cortical Bone: A very hard and strong outer layer of bone. Also called dense bone.
Trabecular Bone: Spongy bone that is very porous.

This podcast episode contains paid advertisements.

Mentioned in this episode:

NOR Series Final April 21 - May