Daphnia pulex
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| phylum | Arthropoda | Daphnia pulex is the most common species of water flea. It has a cosmopolitan distribution: the species is found throughout the Americas, Europe and Australia. It is a model species, and was the first crustacean to have its genome sequenced. It is an arthropod whose body segments are difficult to distinguish. They can only be recognised by the appendages they bear (only ever one pair per segment), and by studying the internal anatomy. The head is distinct and is made up of six segments which are fused together even as an embryo. It bears the mouthparts, and two pairs of antennae, the second of which are enlarged into powerful organs used for swimming.
For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Branchiopoda |
| subphylum | Crustacea | |
| class | Branchiopoda | |
| order | Cladocera | |
| family | Daphniidae | |
| genus | Daphnia | |
| species | D. pulex |
