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Daphnia pulex
Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Branchiopoda
Suborder Cladocera
Family Daphniidae
Distinguishing Characteristics
  • Concave ventral head margin.
  • Small, stout polygonal markings.
  • Marginal denticles extending less than half the length of the postabdomen
  • Incised anterior margin of the head.
Ecology
  • Daphnia pulex has a broad range of habitats. It is the most common Daphnia found in ephemeral pools, but it also occurs in lakes ranging from ultra oligotrophic (clear bodied with little pigmentation) to eutrophic, where they may be bright red because of high hemoglobin production. Forms of D. pulex in large lakes may be difficult to distinguish from D. pulicaria .
Additional Notes
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