freshwater flea

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• freshwater — adj. 1 of or found in fresh water; not of the sea. 2 US (esp. of a school or college) rustic or provincial. Phrases and idioms: freshwater flea = DAPHNIA …   Useful english 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 — 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 — 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 — 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

• daphnia — n. any freshwater branchiopod crustacean of the genus Daphnia, enclosed in a transparent carapace and with long antennae and prominent eyes. Also called freshwater flea. Etymology: mod.L f. Daphne name of a nymph in Gk mythol., f. DAPHNE …   Useful english dictionary

• branchiopod — /brang kee euh pod /, n. 1. any crustacean of the class (or subclass) Branchiopoda, having flattened, footlike appendages that bear respiratory organs. adj. 2. Also, branchiopodous /brang kee op euh deuhs/. belonging or pertaining to the… …   Universalium

• crustacean — /kru stay sheuhn/, n. 1. any chiefly aquatic arthropod of the class Crustacea, typically having the body covered with a hard shell or crust, including the lobsters, shrimps, crabs, barnacles, and wood lice. adj. 2. belonging or pertaining to the… …   Universalium

• Zebra mussel — Live zebra mussels underwater with shells open, animals respiring, siphons visible. Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

• Turtle — For other uses, see Turtle (disambiguation). Turtles Temporal range: Late Triassic – Recent, 215–0 Ma …   Wikipedia