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Cladocera
 
 
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Cladocera or cladocerans are small crustacean
Crustacean

Crustaceans are a large group of arthropods, comprising almost 52,000 described species , and are usually treated as a subphylum . They include various familiar animals, such as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles....
s commonly called water flea
Water flea

Water flea is a generic term for a number of small aquatic animal crustacea characterised by their jumping or jerky mode of swimming. The characteristic of the water flea is that the main part of the body is enclosed by a kind of shell....
s, part of the Class Branchiopoda
Branchiopoda

Branchiopoda is a group of primitive and primarily fresh water crustaceans, mostly resembling shrimp. There are over 900 known species worldwide....
. They form a monophyletic group
Monophyly

In common cladistic usage, a monophyletic group is a clade, consisting of an ancestor and all its descendants. The term is synonymous with the uncommon term holophyly....
, which is currently divided into four suborders, 11 families
Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is a taxonomic rank. Exact details of formal nomenclature depend on the Nomenclature Codes which applies....
, 80 genera
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
, and about 400 species
Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
. The most commonly known genus is Daphnia
Daphnia

Daphnia are small, planktonic crustaceans, between 0.2 and 5 mm in length. Daphnia are members of the Order Cladocera, and are one of the several small aquatic crustaceans commonly called water fleas because of their saltation swimming style ....
 (freshwater water flea
Water flea

Water flea is a generic term for a number of small aquatic animal crustacea characterised by their jumping or jerky mode of swimming. The characteristic of the water flea is that the main part of the body is enclosed by a kind of shell....
s), which is the most researched in this group; Daphnia is commonly used to test the toxicity of chemicals in solution or for water pollution
Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms ....
.

Anatomy
Cladocera are free-swimming organisms, and most orientate themselves with dorsal side up.






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Encyclopedia


Cladocera or cladocerans are small crustacean
Crustacean

Crustaceans are a large group of arthropods, comprising almost 52,000 described species , and are usually treated as a subphylum . They include various familiar animals, such as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles....
s commonly called water flea
Water flea

Water flea is a generic term for a number of small aquatic animal crustacea characterised by their jumping or jerky mode of swimming. The characteristic of the water flea is that the main part of the body is enclosed by a kind of shell....
s, part of the Class Branchiopoda
Branchiopoda

Branchiopoda is a group of primitive and primarily fresh water crustaceans, mostly resembling shrimp. There are over 900 known species worldwide....
. They form a monophyletic group
Monophyly

In common cladistic usage, a monophyletic group is a clade, consisting of an ancestor and all its descendants. The term is synonymous with the uncommon term holophyly....
, which is currently divided into four suborders, 11 families
Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is a taxonomic rank. Exact details of formal nomenclature depend on the Nomenclature Codes which applies....
, 80 genera
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
, and about 400 species
Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
. The most commonly known genus is Daphnia
Daphnia

Daphnia are small, planktonic crustaceans, between 0.2 and 5 mm in length. Daphnia are members of the Order Cladocera, and are one of the several small aquatic crustaceans commonly called water fleas because of their saltation swimming style ....
 (freshwater water flea
Water flea

Water flea is a generic term for a number of small aquatic animal crustacea characterised by their jumping or jerky mode of swimming. The characteristic of the water flea is that the main part of the body is enclosed by a kind of shell....
s), which is the most researched in this group; Daphnia is commonly used to test the toxicity of chemicals in solution or for water pollution
Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms ....
.

Anatomy


Cladocera are free-swimming organisms, and most orientate themselves with dorsal side up. They have a two-valved carapace
Carapace

A carapace is a Dorsum section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids as well as vertebrates such as chelonians, order Testudines, turtles and tortoises....
 covering most of the body except the appendage
Appendage

An appendage in the broadest sense is an additional or subsidiary part existing on, or added to, something which can generally still function if the appendage has never existed or is later provided or grown, or will still perform a primary function if the appendage is removed....
s. In some families, the carapace only covers the brood pouch area. The head is typically separated from the body by a deep indentation, but also may not be separated. It projects forward as a beak or rostrum
Rostrum

Rostrum may refer to:* Any platform or stage for public speaking* Australian Rostrum, an association of Australian public speaking clubs* Rostrum , an anatomical structure resembling a bird's beak...
. On the forehead is an unpaired compound eye, a result of two fused eyes, and, in most species, a simple naupliar
Nauplius (larva)

A nauplius is the first larva of animals classified as crustaceans . It consists of a head and a telson. The thorax and abdomen, characteristic of adult crustaceans, have not developed yet....
 eye.

The number of ommatidia that make up the compound eye varies from species to species according to their food preferences. The plankton
Plankton

Plankton consist of any drifting organisms that inhabit the pelagic zone of oceans, seas, or bodies of fresh water. Plankton are defined by their ecological niche rather than their Phylogenetics or taxonomy classification....
-filtering Daphnia has an eye of only 22 ommatidia, while the carnivorous Evadne and Leptodora have 80 and 300, respectively. The eyesight of carnivorous water fleas plays an important role in catching food. The first pair of antennae
Antenna (biology)

Antennae are paired appendages connected to the front-most morphogenesis of arthropods. In crustaceans, they are biramous and present on the first two segments of the head, with the smaller pair known as antennules....
 that contains sensory organs is quite small and is attached to the rostrum. The second pair, however, is disproportionably large compared to the body. They have two branches, and both branches bear long, feathery bristles. The second pair of antennae is the primary organ of locomotion and catching food in water fleas. In many species the two pairs of antennae are attached to each other. Sweeping both antennae downward simultaneously, the crustaceans swim by making short jumps. On the lower side of the head is the mouth, surrounded by the upper lip in front, the mandibles
Mandible (arthropod)

In arthropods, the mandible is either of a pair of arthropod mouthparts used for biting, cutting and holding food. Mandibles are often simply referred to as jaws....
 at the sides, and the maxillae
Maxilla (arthropod)

In certain arthropods, the maxillae are paired mouthparts located behind the Mandible . While the mandibles are used for biting or cutting food, the maxillae are used for swallowing....
 (jaws) at the back.

The thorax
Thorax

The thorax is a division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen.In mammals, the thorax is the region of the body formed by the sternum, the thoracic vertebrae and the ribs....
 of water fleas is very short and consists of 4 to 6 segments. In females, there is a large space between the back and the dorsal side of the carapace that functions as a brood pouch. The eggs are laid into the pouch and develop there. In carnivorous water fleas the shell is reduced in size, leaving most of the body exposed, and is attached to the dorsal
Dorsal

Dorsal is an adjective which means being at the back.Dorsal may refer to:* Dorsum , a part of an animal* A dorsal consonant, in linguistics...
side; in these species it is only used as a brood pouch.

The structure of the thoracic legs is varied according to food preferences. These legs are generally similar to those of fairy
Fairy shrimp

Fairy shrimp are Branchiopoda that include brine shrimp. They often appear in vernal pools, pot holes and other ephemeral pools. Although they live in fresh or saltwater, they do not live in oceans or seas....
, tadpole
Notostraca

Members of the Order Notostraca are small crustaceans in the Class Branchiopoda. Triops have two internal compound eyes and one Nauplius eye in-between, a flattened carapace covering its head and arthropod leg-bearing body segment....
 and clam shrimps. In most cladoceran crustaceans they are used to filter small particles of food suspended in water, which they eat. Accordingly the lobes of the legs are equipped with numerous feathery bristles, which together make up the filtering apparatus. The legs sweep 300-500 times a minute.

Most species also have a tail, or spiny projection of the carapace, while some have hairs projecting. Only a few groups have "true tails" that are segmented and are a projection of the body instead of the carapace.

Taxonomy


Order Cladocera Latreille, 1829
  • Suborder Anomopoda
    • Family Daphniidae Straus, 1820
      • Ceriodaphnia Dana, 1853
      • Daphnia
        Daphnia

        Daphnia are small, planktonic crustaceans, between 0.2 and 5 mm in length. Daphnia are members of the Order Cladocera, and are one of the several small aquatic crustaceans commonly called water fleas because of their saltation swimming style ....
         Müller 1785
      • Daphniopsis Sars, 1903
      • Megafenestra Dumont & Pensaert, 1983
      • Simocephalus Schödler, 1858
      • Scapholeberis Schödler, 1858
    • Family Moinidae
      Moinidae

      Moinidae is a crustacean family within the order Cladocera. Species within this family are widely occurring including the continents of North America and Africa....
       Goulden, 1968
      • Moina
        Moina

        Moina is a genus of crustaceans within the family Moinidae. The genus was first described by Spencer Fullerton Baird in the year 1850. This genus demonstrates the ability to survive in waters containing high salinity and other impurity....
         Baird, 1850
      • Moinodaphnia Herrick, 1887
    • Family Bosminidae Baird, 1846
      • Bosmina
        Bosmina

        Bosmina is a genus in the order of Cladocera. Males vary in size from 0.4-0.5mm and females vary in size from 0.4-0.6mm. There are more females than males in populations of Bosmina....
         Baird, 1846 (includes Bosmina longirostris
        Bosmina longirostris

        Bosmina longirostris is a species of Cladocera found in the Great Lakes and Central Europe. It is found in the plankton near the shoreline of lakes and ponds....
        )
      • Bosminopsis Richard, 1895
    • Family Macrothricidae Norman & Brady, 1867
      • Acantholeberis Lilljeborg, 1846
      • Bunops Birge, 1893
      • Drepanothrix Sars, 1862
      • Grimaldina Richard, 1892
      • Guernella Richard, 1892
      • Iheringula Sars, 1900
      • Ilyocryptus Sars, 1862
      • Lathonura Lilljeborg, 1853
      • Macrothrix Baird, 1843
      • Ophryoxus Sars, 1862
      • Parophryoxus Doolittle, 1909
      • Pseudomoina Sars, 1912
      • Streblocerus Sars, 1862
      • Wlassicsia Daday, 1904
    • Family Neothricidae Dumont & Silva-Briano, 1998
      • Neothrix Gurney, 1927
    • Family Chydoridae Stebbing, 1902
      • Acroperus Baird, 1843
      • Alona
        Alona

        Alona is a genus of crustacean in family Chydoridae. It contains the following species:* Alona costata*         Alona hercegovinae* ''Alona natalensis...
         Baird, 1843
      • Alonella Sars, 1862
      • Alonopsis Sars, 1862
      • Anchistropus Sars, 1862
      • Archepleuroxus Smirnov & Timms, 1983
      • Armatalona Sinev, 2004
      • Australochydorus Smirnov & Timms, 1983
      • Australospilus Smirnov, 2001
      • Bryospilus
      • Camptocercus Baird, 1843
      • Celsinotum Frey, 1991
      • Chydorus Leach, 1816
      • Dadaya Sars, 1901
      • Disparalona Sars, 1862
      • Dunhevedia King, 1853
      • Ephemeroporus Frey, 1982
      • Euryalona Sars, 1901
      • Eurycercus Baird, 1843
      • Graptolebris Sars, 1862
      • Karualona Dumont & Silva-Briano, 2000
      • Kurzia Dybowski & Grochowski, 1894
      • Leberis Smirnov, 1989
      • Leydigia Kurz, 187
      • Miralona Sinev, 2004
      • Monope Smirnov & Timms, 1983
      • Monospilus Sars, 1862
      • Notoalona Rajapaksa & Fernando, 1987
      • Oxyurella Dybowski & Grochowski, 1894
      • Paralona Šráhek-Hušek, 1962
      • Picripleurocus Frey, 1993
      • Phrixura P. E. Müller, 1867
      • Planicirclus Frey, 1991
      • Pleuroxus Baird, 1843
      • Plurispina Frey, 1991
      • Pseudochydorus Fryer, 1968
      • Pseudomonospilus Smirnov, 2001
      • Rak Smirnov & Timms, 1983
      • Rhynchotalona Norman, 1903
      • Spinalona Ciros-Perez & Elias-Gutierrez, 1997
      • Tretocephala Frey, 1965
    • Family Sayciidae Frey, 1967
      • Saycia Sars, 1904
  • Suborder Ctenopoda
    • Family Sididae Baird, 1850
      • Diaphanosoma Fischer, 1850
      • Latona Straus, 1820
      • Latonopsis Sars, 1888
      • Penilia Dana, 1849
      • Pseudosida Herrick, 1884
      • Sarsilatona Korovchinsky, 1985
      • Sida Straus, 1820
    • Family Holopedidae Sars, 1865
      • Holopedium Zaddach, 1855
  • Suborder Onychopoda
    • Family Polyphemidae Baird, 1845
      • Polyphemus Linnaeus, 1758
    • Family Cercopagidae Mordukhai-Boltovskoi, 1966
      • Bythotrephes Leydig, 1860
      • Cercopagis Sars, 1897
    • Family Podonidae Mordukhai-Boltovskoi, 1968
      • Caspievadne Behning, 1941
      • Cornigerius Mordukhai-Boltovskoi, 1967
      • Evadne Lovén, 1836
      • Pleopsis Dana, 1852
      • Podon Lilljeborg, 1853
      • Podonevadne Gibitz, 1922
  • Suborder Haplopoda
    • Family Leptodoridae Lilljeborg, 1861
      • Leptodora Lilljeborg, 1861


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