A three-inch adult *Triops* is comparable in length to which common office/household item?

An average paperclip end-to-end or a standard house key

To help contextualize the maximum size achieved by the *Triops longicaudatus* species—which can reach up to 3.0 inches in total length—the text offers two specific, relatable comparisons using everyday items. An adult of this size is approximately equivalent to the length of an average paperclip when measured from one end to the other. Alternatively, its length mirrors the measurement from the handle (bow) to the tip of the blade of a standard house key. These comparisons underscore the creature's small stature, which stands in sharp contrast to the massive scale often associated with the Mesozoic Era, suggesting evolutionary specialization for niche survival rather than sheer gigantism.