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Daphnia Pulex

Crustaceans

Daphnia pulex, the most common species of water flea, is a small freshwater crustacean in the family Daphniidae, formally described by Leydig in 1860. Found worldwide across the Americas, Europe, and Australia, it favors small, shaded pools, and has a head with six fused segments and two pairs of antennae, the second pair enlarged for swimming, with a shell extending backward into a spine. It is a model species and was the first crustacean to have its genome sequenced, a genome of about 200 megabase pairs across 12 chromosomes carrying some 31,000 genes, and it reproduces by cyclical parthenogenesis, alternating between asexual and sexual generations.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Filter Feeder 1
System (Realm)
Freshwater 2
Relationship to People
Ecotourism and Research 1
Living or Extinct
Yes 3
Comparison
NatureServe Rank
GNR Unranked 4
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 5
Scientific Name
Daphnia pulex 6
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated 7
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Branchiopoda, Taxa
Source Wikidata: Daphnia Pulex

In Biome

Lake, Biomes
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Daphnia pulex (Animal Diversity Web)
River, Biomes
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Daphnia pulex (Animal Diversity Web)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Belgium

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Denmark

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Norway

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

South Africa

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sweden

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Ukraine

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

United States

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Daphnia pulex (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
  • Food Habits
    They are filter feeders meaning they do not usually actively seek food
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Positive: "Daphnia are also very frequently used by scienti"
    Daphnia are also very frequently used by scientists for experimentation.
  • In Biome: River, Habitat: Aquatic Biomes
    Aquatic Biomes benthic benthic lakes and ponds rivers and streams coastal coastal
  • In Biome: Lake, Habitat: Aquatic Biomes
    Aquatic Biomes benthic benthic lakes and ponds rivers and streams coastal coastal
View the Source
2. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species APIView the Source
3. Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeView the Source
4. NatureServe Explorer: Daphnia pulex
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)
Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "GNR"
View the Source
5. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Animalia
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 23
Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 23
"cites_listing":"I/II/III/NC","eu_listing":"A/B/C/D/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":null,"class":null,"order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Animals","language":"EN"},{"name":"Fauna","language":"EN"},{"name":"Animaux","language":"FR"}],"cites_listings":[]
View the Source
6. Wikipedia: Daphnia pulex
WikipediaWikidata Q1080188 (P225 taxon name)View the Source
7. GBIF (IUCN Red List category): GBIF IUCN Red List category for Daphnia pulex
GBIF (IUCN Red List category)GBIF taxon key 2234840, category field
Quote, GBIF taxon key 2234840, category field
"category": "NOT_EVALUATED"
View the Source
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
International Union for Conservation of NatureView the Source
Wikidata: Daphnia Pulex
Child Taxon Of: Branchiopoda, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
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