Miscellaneous Crustaceans

Cladocerans
Various Cladocerans ( not quite microscopic )
Daphnia

Look very closely, and you may see swarms of Daphnia ( right ) swimming jerkily through the water as they feed on microscopic algae. These tiny "water fleas", are an important link in the food chain, converting plant plankton into animal.

Daphnia

Tadpole shrimps ( left ) grow much larger than daphnia, up to 1 inch. They are capable of swimming but are usually found crawling on the bottom, on plants, or burrowing. Their eggs are highly resistant to drying, which makes Tadpole shrimps well-adapted to life in temporary pools.

Tadpole shrimps

Freshwater shrimps are similar to their saltwater cousins and are usually small ( 1-2" ) and transparent.


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