Organisms

Daphnia pulex

A freshwater water flea with distinctly stout middle pecten of the postabdominal claw and small symmetrical polygonal markings on the rostrum. D. pulex and several closely related species such as D. pulicaria belong to what is sometimes known as D. pulex complex and can hybridize. Daphnia pulex is found ubiquitously and is often the most common species in ephemeral pools and is a model system for various ecological, ecotoxicological and biomedical studies.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A freshwater water flea with distinctly stout middle pecten of the postabdominal claw and small symmetrical polygonal markings on the rostrum. D. pulex and several closely related species such as D. pulicaria belong to what is sometimes known as D. pulex complex and can hybridize. Daphnia pulex is found ubiquitously and is often the most common species in ephemeral pools and is a model system for various ecological, ecotoxicological and biomedical studies.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

4 entry terms
  • Common Water Flea
  • Common Water Fleas
  • Water Flea, Common
  • Daphnia pulicaria

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

19 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings anatomy & histology, chemistry, classification, cytology, drug effects, embryology, enzymology, genetics, growth & development, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathogenicity, physiology, radiation effects, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

2024

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Daphnia (1972-2023)

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AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Daphnia pulex. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D000096604. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D000096604
  2. Daphnia pulex. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphnia_pulex
  3. Daphnia pulex. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1080188