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Genus Daphnia

Water Fleas - Daphnia Daphnia galeata mendotae - Daphnia galeata Water flea - Daphnia Daphnia - female Crustacean ? - Daphnia Crustacean ? - Daphnia Daphnia catawba - Daphnia Water Flea, lateral, Specimen 1 - Daphnia
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans)
Class Branchiopoda (Branchiopods)
Order Diplostraca
Suborder Cladocera (Water Fleas)
Infraorder Anomopoda (Anomopods)
Family Daphniidae
Genus Daphnia
Food
They are suspension feeders, that is they feed on small suspended particles. planktonic algae, bacteria.
Life Cycle
They are parthenogenetic in the spring. They lay eggs into the brood pouch, placed dorsally. The embryos develop in the brood pouch and are born live. When conditions get harder, they produce "resting eggs" with a protective casing; these can last the winter (NCBI Introduction to Daphnia Biology).
Remarks
They are used in research. They serve as food for small fish.
Internet References
NCBI Introduction to Daphnia Biology