A large group of tiny freshwater crustaceans, often called water fleas, that have branched antennae used for swimming and feeding.
From Greek 'klados' (branch) and 'keras' (horn/antenna), literally meaning 'branched horns.' The term was coined in the early 19th century to describe these organisms' distinctive branched appendages used for filter-feeding.
Water fleas are so abundant in freshwater ecosystems that they form a major food source for fish—a single glass of pond water might contain thousands of them! They're also one of the fastest-reproducing animals on Earth, which makes them crucial for understanding aquatic food webs.
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