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Scientific Name: Ovalona pulchella King, 1853

Synonym: Alona pulchella (Currently unaccepted)

English Name: Water Flea
Local/Bangla Name: Pani Poka (পানি পোকা)
Zooplankton : Ovalona pulchella

Photo: Dmitry Kulakov (iNaturalist)

Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Branchiopoda
Order: Anomopoda
Family: Chydoridae
Description:
The female of this species has an almost oval body shape, with rounded corners at the back upper and lower parts of its valves. The valves typically have punctate markings or a reticulated pattern. The head shield has an almost rounded back edge and three main pores on the head that are not interconnected. The rostrum is blunt, and the antennules do not reach the tip of the rostrum. The labrum plate has a convex front edge and a slightly pointed apex. The ocellus is positioned midway between the eye and the tip of the rostrum. The postabdomen has nearly straight dorsal and ventral margins, with lateral setae arranged in groups, and the longest seta in each group is distal. The preanal corner is distinct but not protruding. The claws have a basal spine. The length of the female is 0.53 mm. The male is shorter and smaller than the female, with rounded corners at the back upper and lower parts of its valves. The antennules extend beyond the tip of the rostrum. The ocellus is situated midway between the eye and the tip of the rostrum. The first leg is modified, with a hook. The postabdomen slightly narrows towards the end, with groups of lateral setae, and the longest seta in each group is distal. The preanal corner is distinctly protruding. The vas deferens opens at the base of the claws, ventral to them. The claws have a long basal spine. The length of the male is 0.41 mm. Both sexes reproduce through parthenogenesis. The parthenogenetic females progress through various adult stages and produce batches of eggs, which are then incubated in the mother’s brood pouch. Embryonic development occurs within the brood pouch, and the offspring are released as juveniles.
Habitat & Distribution in Bangladesh:
Commonly found in rivers in Bangladesh, such as the Halda River.
Environment:
Freshwater
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