• Middle pecten long and thin in comparison to proximal and distal pecten.
• Ocellus absent.
• Anterior margin of head broadly rounded (sheep head).
• Posterior spine less than ¼ valve length.
• Head and valves no more than 1.2 mm in length.

• Commonly confused with D. ambigua

 DparvulaPostAbdomRejectRotifer.mov - An example of "interference competition" where Daphnia collects the rotifer, Gastropus, into the filtering chamber and rejects it with the postabdomen, often injuring the rotifer (Gilbert, 1989). (5.8 MB)