Cladocera
/kləˈdɒs(ə)rə
/plural noun Zoology
An order of minute branchiopod crustaceans which includes the water fleas. They typically have a transparent shell enclosing the trunk, and large antennae which are used for swimming.As a juvenile, Pomoxis nigromaculatus feeds mainly on microscopic prey such as Cyclops, Cladocera, and Daphnia....
- Daphnia are freshwater crustaceans in the order Cladocera that are known to have four expansion segments in the 18S rRNA gene.
- In the chapter on the Cladocera, Smith does not address the much-discussed question of whether this Order really is a valid monophyletic group.
Origin
Modern Latin (plural), from Greek klados 'branch or root' + keras 'horn' (because of the branched antennae).