Daphnia (Crustacea) Movies

Daphnia Video No. 1 - The pulsating intestine is easily viewed in this specimen and the heart can be seen fluttering (near the head, along the organism's "back" and just behind the intestine); under oblique illumination with a playing time of 19.7 seconds. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 28.8k (modem), 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL, or download this video clip in MPEG format (8.26 MB).

Daphnia Video No. 2 - A daphnia waves its extended appendages to create currents for filter feeding -- the fluttering organ alongside its "back" is the heart; under oblique illumination with a playing time of 31.0 seconds. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 28.8k (modem), 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL, or download this video clip in MPEG format (3.03 MB).

Daphnia are microscopic crustaceans belonging to the order Cladocera. Also known as water fleas, they populate the quiet waters of lakes and ponds throughout the world. Most species are found in freshwater habitats, but a few occur in marine environments.