Sea-Monkeys are a novelty animal sold to children in the United States and the United Kingdom since 1960. They are a variant of brine shrimp or Artemia salina, a species which enters cryptobiosis, a natural state of suspended animation, allowing their cysts to be sold as a dry powder. When the powder is poured into water, live shrimp appear within hours, and grow to near 2 centimeters within one day. Thus the novelty of "instant" life.
In the United Kingdom in the 1970s they were also sold as "Artful Arties".
Product Description
The purchaser of Sea Monkeys receives three packages, a "water purifier" package a "food" package and "instant life eggs" package, along with a set of instructions.
The key ability of unhatched "Sea-Monkeys" to be packaged, shipped, and handled is that they enter cryptobiosis, a natural suspended animation. When released into the prepared aquarium they leave this state and emerge from their cysts. The genetic variant of brine shrimp, the Sea-Monkey, was given the term "instant life" to reflect the instant hatching seen when the cysts are added to the saltwater medium.
To start the process, the "water purifier" package is added to water on the first day. This package has eggs as well as the salt. On the second day, the user adds the "instant life eggs" package, containing Epsom salts, borax and soda ash, in addition to eggs, yeast, and sometimes a blue or green dye. The dye enhances the experience by making the freshly hatched animals more visible.
The Sea-Monkeys seen on the fifth day after adding the "eggs package" are derived from the eggs added with the "purifier" package. The food package is a mixture of Spirulina and dried yeast. The "boost" packages mainly contains salts, which induce increased sexual activity in artemia. In one day Sea-Monkeys double in size, from ½ inch or ¾ inch (1.25 to 1.9 cm).
Taxonomy
They are members of the phylum Arthropoda[1] now called Artemia salina × nyos. They originated in salt lakes and evaporation flats.
Sea-Monkeys are a breed of Artemia salina sometimes classified as a "new species" called "Artemia nyos" ("nyos" being an acronym for "New York Ocean Science Laboratories" where the first "Sea Monkey" Artemia were bred). This is in absence of a formal description fulfilling the ICZN requirements. As such, the correct name would be Artemia salina × nyos if Sea Monkeys are (as is sometimes reported) interspecific hybrids between A. salina and an indeterminate species of Artemia.
History
Sea Monkeys were marketed in 1957 by Harold von Braunhut as Instant Life, though Braunhut changed the name to "Sea-Monkeys" on May 10, 1962. The name "Sea-Monkeys" was chosen because of their supposed playful monkey-like behaviour. Braunhut is also the inventor of X-Ray glasses. They were known for their exaggerated advertisements and packaging, which featured smiling anthropomorphic creatures (originally drawn by Joe Orlando) who bore little resemblance to their true appearance.[2][3] Underneath was a disclaimer stating, "Caricatures shown not intended to depict Artemia." The present disclaimer on the package states, "Illustration is fanciful, does not depict Artemia nyos."
Sea Monkeys were bred for their larger size and longer lifespan, making them more suitable as pets than the original breed of brine shrimp. The U.S. Patent 3,673,986 granted in 1972 describes this as "hatching brine shrimp or similar crustaceans in tap water to give the appearance of instantaneous hatching."
Many types of Sea-Monkey kits are now available. The company produces the original Ocean View tank as well as a variety of other products. The Sea-Monkeys company is now part of the Educational Insights corporation. As of 2008, Sea Monkeys are a division of Transcience.
Other companies have distributed pets along the Sea-Monkey model, including one by Wham-O, and "The Swarm", a product from Dr. Jordan's formulae. In the late 1970s to early 1980s, sachets of "Sea Monsters" were sold in 25-cent gumball machines at A&P supermarkets. When added to water, the packet's contents provided the eggs, salt and nutrients to hatch the brine shrimp.
More recently, an Australian company, Little Aussie Products, has marketed "Itsy Bitsy Sea Dragons", with a different brine shrimp species, Parartemia zietziana, and other tank "buddies" to live with them.
Notes
- ^ "Catalog of Life". http://www.catalogueoflife.org/browse_taxa.php?selected_taxon=62691.
- ^ http://therawfeed.com/pix/seamonkeys-lg.jpg
- ^ http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2005/11/10/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-24/
References
- Braunhut, Harold N. Method and Materials Used for Hatching Brine Shrimp. U.S. Patent No. 3,673,986. 1972.
