The bird flea looks for hosts in different bird species and is a part of the Ceratophyllidae family. Scientific name i: Daphnia pulex: Taxonomy navigation › Daphnia. It changed the balance of the food web because it made it harder for fish to get food by competing for it. Daphnia received the name water flea due to their jerky swimming motions. Scientific literature shows that spiny water flea is limited to regions where water temperature ranges between 4 and 30°C and salinity values between 0.04 and 8.0%, but it prefers a temperature between 10 and 24°C and salinity between 0.04 and 0.4% (Grigorovich et al. Daphnia, commonly called water fleas, are a freshwater zooplankton found in ponds and lakes all over the world. The species is also characterized by a long spine that extends from its abdomen, giving the reason for its name. Unexpectedly Interesting Facts about Daphnia (Water Fleas) One of the most popular choices of fish food in the tropical fish rearing industry is Daphnia. Distinctive Identification Characteristics: Ceratophyllus Gallinae grows up to 2.5mm in length. It has a cosmopolitan distribution: the species is found throughout the Americas, Europe and Australia. Body: The spiny water flea has a 1/4"-1/2" long, translucent body, making it hard to spot unless gathered in a large cluster. Adults range from one-quarter to five-eighths inches long, and are opaque in color. They feed on algae, protists, bacteria, and miscellaneous other tasty bits. They have a single long tail with one to four spines and have one large, distinctive black eyespot. The Water Flea (Daphnia pulex), also known as the common water flea, is the most common species of water flea. Scientific Name: Ceriodaphnia dubia Common Name: Water flea. About 600 species under the order Cladocera has been identified although so much more are still unrecognized. This easy-to-grow, miniscule crustacean is also known as a water flea. Reasons for success. BiologyWise brings you some interesting facts about this tiny creature. Water fleas under the order Cladocera have the scientific name of Daphnia ambigua which is the most common genus of the species. Physical description: Ceriodaphnia dubia are very small, never larger than one millimeter in length. Their common name, water flea, comes from their jerky swimming movements and flea-like shape. Scientific Name: Ceratophyllus Gallinae. They belong to the large group of “jointed limb” animals which mostly live in water. The Cladocera are an order of small crustaceans commonly called water fleas.Over 650 species have been recognised so far, with many more undescribed.They first appeared before the Permian period, and have since invaded most freshwater habitats.Some have also adapted to a life in the ocean, the only members of Branchiopoda to do so, even if several anostracans live in hypersaline lakes. Fishhook Water Flea HOPE YOU ENJOYED! Some types of Daphnia can be seen with the human eye, while others must be identified with a microscope. 1998). Identification. It is a model species, and was the first crustacean to have its genome sequenced. In addition, the spiny water flea has a dark black eye that can easily be seen against its contrasting light body. If a technical scientific name were needed it would be “dihydrogen monoxide” according to the rules for naming inorganic compounds. Trick or Treat Food Web The fishhook water flea's position in the food web is nothing since it has no predators. Terminal (leaf) node. Mostly Seen: While the common knowledge suggests that this flea type tends to attack birds, it is also known that it attacks poultry, humans and other animals. Spiny waterfleas are microscopic animals, also known as zooplankton, that live in open water. When in good health, they appear to be a brownish-orange color.