Due to the importance of identifying the major characteristics of Artemia populations, in this study some
physiologic, biometric, nutritional and genetic characteristics of one Artemia population from Iran named
Arak’s Artemia (Mighan Lake) was studied. The hatched larvae of Artemia were reared in the saline water of
80 g/l with standards method in which percentage of survival and growth were evaluated on days 3, 7, 11 and
15 of culture period. In order to study the morphometric characteristics of Artemia, diameter of full cysts as
well as 11 more morphological parameters of adult Artemia were measured. The fatty acids profile were
analyzed by gas chromatography. The Genetic characteristics were compared with other Artemia populations
by sequencing after PCR amplification of Hsp 26 gene. According to the results, the diameter of cysts and
nauplii instar were 276.28 and 544.66 micron, respectively. The growth and survival of brine shrimp
Artemia, in comparison with other populations, reflected good growth and survival of this population. The
results of fatty acids profile also showed higher amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids in this Artemia
compared to other populations cultured under identical conditions. The morphometric characteristics and
genetic study of Hsp 26 gene showed great affinity of this population with the parthenogenetic brine shrimp
Artemia. However, individual differences could be used to characterize this population.