Water flea

Water flea

Water flea is a generic term for a number of small aquatic crustacea characterised by their jumping or jerky mode of swimming. Most are between 0.1 mm and 3 mm in length. Most commonly, they will be species of "Daphnia" but a number of other genera are also commonly included, including "Cyclops", and "Diaptomus". Water fleas are commonly sold as aquarium food since they are easy to culture and reproduce rapidly. They are capable of existing in salt or fresh water, though different species inhabit each region. There are over 100 species of water flea. They eat small algae and microscopic plankton.

ee also

*Plankton
*Daphnia


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  • Water flea — Wa ter flea (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small aquatic Entomostraca belonging to the genera {Cyclops}, {Daphnia}, etc; so called because they swim with sudden leaps, or starts. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • water flea — n. any of an order (Cladocera) of mostly freshwater branchiopods; esp., any of a genus (Daphnia) commonly found in ponds and used to feed fish in aquariums …   English World dictionary

  • water flea — any of various small crustaceans that move about in the water like fleas, as those of the genus Daphnia. [1575 85] * * * Any of about 450 species (order Anomopoda) of microscopic, mostly freshwater crustaceans distributed worldwide. Species in… …   Universalium

  • water flea — wa′ter flea n. ivt any tiny freshwater branchiopod crustacean of the order Cladocera, as the daphnia • Etymology: 1575–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • water flea — noun 1. minute free swimming freshwater copepod having a large median eye and pear shaped body and long antennae used in swimming; important in some food chains and as intermediate hosts of parasitic worms that affect man e.g. Guinea worms • Syn …   Useful english dictionary

  • water flea — noun Date: circa 1585 any of various small active dark or brightly colored aquatic crustaceans (as a daphnia or cyclops) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • water flea — Daphnia are used as food for fish in aquaria …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • water flea — noun Any of various aquatic crustacea characterised by their jumping or jerky mode of swimming; mostly species of Daphnia …   Wiktionary

  • water flea — noun another term for daphnia …   English new terms dictionary

  • water flea — /ˈwɔtə fli/ (say wawtuh flee) noun any of various small aquatic crustaceans of the order Cladocera, as the C. daphnia, which swim with characteristically jerky movements …  

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