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Scientific Name: Alona costata G.O. Sars, 1862
English Name: Water Flea
Local/Bangla Name: Pani Poka (পানি পোকা)
Zooplankton : Alona costata

Photo: Ian Gardiner (iNaturalist)

Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Branchiopoda
Order: Anomopoda
Family: Chydoridae
Description:
The female of this species has a broadly oval body shape, with rounded corners both at the back upper and lower parts of its valves. The posterior margin of the valves is lined with small spines along the inner edge. The valves are marked with longitudinal lines that connect with each other. The head shield has a rounded back edge and three main interconnected pores on the head, along with lateral pores that have thickened chitin. The antennules do not extend to the tip of the rostrum. There are specific numbers of antennal setae on different segments. The lateral plate has a rounded front edge. The ocellus is smaller than the eye and positioned midway between the eye and the tip of the rostrum. The postabdomen is short, slightly narrowing towards the end, with a nearly straight dorsal margin and a pre-anal corner that slightly protrudes beyond the base of the claws. There are 11-12 anal spines, decreasing in size towards the base, and lateral setae arranged in rows, with the distal seta being the longest in each group. The anal margin is almost straight, and the claw has a single basal spine. The length of this organism ranges from 0.48 to 0.65 mm. Regarding reproduction, this species utilizes parthenogenesis. The parthenogenetic female undergoes multiple adult stages and produces batches of eggs, which are not released externally but rather incubated within the mother’s brood pouch. Embryonic development occurs entirely within the brood pouch, and the young are eventually released as juveniles.
Habitat & Distribution in Bangladesh:
Commonly found in rivers in Bangladesh, such as the Halda River.
Environment:
Freshwater, Brackish
Main References:

Ahmed ATA, Kabir SMH, Ahmad M, Rahman AKA, Haque EU, Ahmed ZU, Begum ZNT, Hassan MA, Khondker M (eds.) (2008) Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh, Vol. 18. Part II. Arthropoda: Crustacea. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 226 pp

DNA Barcodes from Bangladesh
GenBank Accession Number:
Other DNA Barcodes & Nucleutide Sequences
Global IUCN conservation status:
Other Information