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Under construction!
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Chydoridae Genera
For morphological terms see: Cladocera
Anatomy
The Family Chydoridae is a group of usually small
to very small waterfleas including 15 Great Lakes genera and more
than 30 Great Lakes species. Fine features of the carapace and postabdomen
are used to distinguish among genera and species - necessitating
use of a high-powered light microscope at a minimum.
Unique features within this family are highlighted
in green.
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0.35mm
Narrow posterior margin (much less than max height) and spherical
or broadly ellipsoid body. Valves with a conspicuous
projection at the anteroventral margin. Without a spine at
the ventroposterior angle (tail).
Anchistropus
minor
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to 1.0 mm
Posterior margin not notably less than maximum height. Dorsal
crest extending onto the head. Narrow postabdominal claws
with a secondary tooth and both lateral and marginal denticles.
Genus Camptocercus
2 Great Lakes species
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to 1.0 mm
Posterior margin not notably less than maximum height. Dorsal
crest which does not extend onto the head. Narrow postabdominal
claws with a secondary tooth and both lateral and marginal denticles.
Kurzia
latissima
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0.8-0.9mm
Posterior margin not notably less than maximum height. Postabdominal
claws with a secondary tooth and only lateral denticles.
Acroperus
harpae

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0.5-0.7mm
Posterior margin not notably less than maximum height. Rostrum not
much longer than 1st antennae (2) and not narrowed abruptly (1)
. Postabdominal claws without a secondary tooth. Very short carapace
teeth forming an abbreviated tail (3).
Graptoleberis
testudinaria

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0.8mm
Posterior margin not notably less than maximum height. Broad postabdominal
claws with a secondary tooth and both lateral and marginal denticles.
Alonopsis
elongata
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0.5mm
Posterior margin not notably less than maximum height. Rostrum much
longer than 1st antennae. Postabdominal claws without a secondary
tooth. Postabdomen with 2-3 marginal denticles and numerous lateral
denticles.
Rhynchotalona
falcata
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0.9-1.0mm
Posterior margin not notably less than maximum height. Rostrum not
much longer than 1st antennae and abruptly narrowed at the tip.
Postabdominal claws without a secondary tooth but with clusters
of large spines. No carapace teeth forming a tail.
Genus Leydigia
2 Great Lakes species
 
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0.4-1.0mm
Posterior margin not notably less than maximum height. Rostrum not
much longer than 1st antennae and abruptly narrowed at the tip.
Postabdominal claws without a secondary tooth and without clusters
of large spines.
Genus
Alona
6 Great Lakes species

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0.48mm
Valves striated. Rostrum longer than 1st antennae recurved and reaching
the ventral margin, but extending only slightly beyond the tips
of the terminal olfactory setae. Postabdomen with marginal denticles.
Postabdominal claws without a secondary tooth, with one basal spine.
Posterior margin without teeth along the entire length but usually
with 1 minute tooth at the inferoposterior angle (1).
Genus Disparalona
2 Great Lakes species

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0.2-0.5mm
Narrow posterior margin (much less than max height). Posterior margin
may be notched or with a spine at the ventroposterior angle or with
a small tooth at the inferoposterior angle (tail).
Genus Alonella
2 Great Lakes species
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0.5-0.8mm
Narrow posterior margin (much less than max height) (1) and elongate
body. Rostrum long, extending well past the tips of the olfactory
setae but not curved forward (2) . Postabdominal claw with 2 major
basal spines (3). Posterior margin without teeth along the entire
length but with 1 or more very short carapace teeth forming an abbreviated
tail.
Genus Pleuroxus
5 Great Lakes species

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0.3-0.8mm
Narrow posterior margin (much less than max height) (1) and spherical
or ovate body. Postabdomen short and broad with a prominent preanal
angle (2). Without a spine at the ventroposterior angle (tail)(3).
Genus Chydorus
5 Great Lakes species
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