What is the RSPB Scotland's Mersehead Reserve?

The RSPB Scotland's Mersehead Reserve is a nature reserve located in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland where rare tadpole shrimp have been reintroduced.

What is unique about the biology of the tadpole shrimp?

Tadpole shrimp are relatives of one of the oldest known animal species in the world, with fossils dating back 220 million years. They are self-fertile female hermaphrodites, meaning a population can start from just one hatched egg, and they have adapted to survive in highly inhospitable conditions like seasonal pools that dry out.

Home / Environment / Rare Tadpole Shrimp Hatch in Scotland After 75-Year Absence

Rare Tadpole Shrimp Hatch in Scotland After 75-Year Absence

Q: How long were the tadpole shrimp absent from the Mersehead Reserve?

The last official record of the tadpole shrimp at the Mersehead Reserve was in 1948, before the population was wiped out in the 1960s. The shrimp have now returned to the site after more than 75 years.

16 Oct

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Summary

Tadpole shrimp, a relative of one of the oldest known animals, returned to RSPB Scotland's Mersehead Reserve
Last official record of the species at the site was in 1948, wiped out in the 1960s
Recent wet weather has allowed the eggs to hatch, with two adult shrimps spotted in October 2025

Rare Tadpole Shrimp Hatch in Scotland After 75-Year Absence

In a significant conservation victory, the rare tadpole shrimp has returned to a nature reserve in southern Scotland after more than 75 years. The ancient creature, a relative of one of the oldest known animal species in the world, has been reintroduced to the RSPB Scotland's Mersehead Reserve in Dumfries and Galloway.

The last official record of the tadpole shrimp at the site was in 1948, before the population was wiped out in the 1960s due to coastal erosion. However, through a collaborative conservation effort, wildlife charities have been working to reestablish the species in the area. In the summers of 2024 and 2025, dried sediment containing over 20,000 shrimp eggs was spread into seasonal coastal pools at the reserve.