Order Diplostraca
The Diplostraca (Order Diplostraca) includes 17 species across 11 families and 17 genera in our directory.
About Diplostraca
Diplostraca includes ~3,500 described species of water fleas (Daphnia) and clam shrimp. Daphnia are among the most studied organisms in ecology and toxicology - they reproduce by parthenogenesis, producing only females under good conditions.
Economic Impact
Daphnia are the global standard test organism for aquatic toxicology (EPA, OECD). They are essential in aquaculture as live food for fish fry. The Daphnia genome was the first crustacean genome to be sequenced (2011).
Ecological Role
Daphnia are keystone species in freshwater food webs - they filter algae from water and are primary prey for fish. A single Daphnia can filter up to 4 mL of water per hour, and their populations can dramatically improve water clarity in lakes.
Families in Diplostraca (11)
Species in Diplostraca (17)
Holopedium gibberum
Holopedium gibberum
"All previous descriptions of H. gibberum from temperate North America are properly assigned to H. glacialis ".
Holopedium glacialis
Holopedium glacialis
Identification: "All previous descriptions of H. gibberum from temperate North America are properly assigned to H. glacialis ".
Podon leuckartii
Podon leuckartii
Identification: See Marine Species Identification Portal
Bosmina freyi
Bosmina freyi
Camptocercus rotundus
Camptocercus rotundus
Daphnia galeata
Daphnia galeata
Eulimnadia geayi
Eulimnadia geayi
Eurycercus longirostris
Eurycercus longirostris
Holarctic Clam Shrimp
Lynceus brachyurus
Leptodora kindtii
Leptodora kindtii
Penilia avirostris
Penilia avirostris
Picripleuroxus denticulatus
Picripleuroxus denticulatus
Polyphemus pediculus
Polyphemus pediculus
Sida crystallina
Sida crystallina
Simocephalus mixtus
Simocephalus mixtus
Simocephalus serrulatus
Simocephalus serrulatus
Spiny Water Flea
Bythotrephes longimanus