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
System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleEcotourism and Research 1 Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
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
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
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 ZoologyFood 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
3. NatureServe Explorer: Daphnia pulex
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "GNR"
View the Source 4. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Animalia
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 23Quote, 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 5. Wikipedia: Daphnia pulex
6. GBIF (IUCN Red List category): GBIF IUCN Red List category for Daphnia pulex
GBIF (IUCN Red List category)GBIF taxon key 2234840, category fieldQuote, GBIF taxon key 2234840, category field
"category": "NOT_EVALUATED"
View the Source IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Wikidata: Daphnia Pulex
Child Taxon Of: Branchiopoda, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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