Daphnia

Taxonomy:
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Arthropoda
Class - Branchiopoda
Order - Anomopoda
Family - Daphniidae
Genus - Daphnia

Physical Description:
Daphnia are aquatic microscopic crustaceans. They are sometimes called water fleas because their movement is very rapid, jerky, and jumpy like a flea. Daphnia have five or six pairs of legs but the movement is not caused by their legs. Instead, the jumpy motion comes from the pushing movement of the second set of antennae near the top of the body. The compound eye of the daphnia is a prominent feature on the top of the head.

Habitat:
Daphnia can be found in freshwater systems all around the world. They are filter feeders (although there are a few predatory species of daphnia) and eat microscopic plants and other organic matter.

Ecological Importance:
Daphnia are the foundation of many aquatic food chains and are used as a food source in commercial fisheries. Scientists study daphnia to learn about the effect of toxins and temperature on heart rates because they are transparent and their internal organs can be clearly seen under a microscope.

Sources:
https://kids.kiddle.co/Daphnia
https://www.britannica.com/animal/water-flea

Here is my attempt to photograph and record some daphnia I found in the river near my home.