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Description: Leptodora is an atypical cladoceran. Why? you ask. It is a giant amongst cladocerans, with adults having a body length of about 15 mm. It is one of the few predacious cladocerans, feeding on a variety of small invertebrates, such as rotifers and protozoans. And it is the only cladoceran where the egg develops into the typical crustacean larva, the nauplius (or metanauplius) larva. Also, look at its shape; no other cladoceran has such a shape. The photo specimen is distorted, appearing wrinkled, because of the thin flexible cuticle. The species is found mainly in northern areas of North America, Europe and Asia. Leptodora kindtii specimens are often found in open water areas of lakes. Although specimens can be large, they are not the easiest animal to spot because the thin cuticle can make living specimens almost transparent.
Photograph: Cheryl Podemski Author(s): Hugh Clifford Keywords: | Animalia | Animalia | Arthropoda | Branchiopoda | Cladocera | Crustacea | Gastropoda | Leptodoridae | Mollusca | Prosobranchia | metanauplius | nauplius | Alberta Curriculum Keywords: None Biology Course Keywords: None |
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