New Zealand Ceriodaphnia species: Identification of Ceriodaphnia dubia Richard, 1894 and Ceriodaphnia cf pulchella Sars, 1862

Abstract

Until 1986, the genus Ceriodaphnia was thought to be commonly represented in New Zealand by only one species, C. dubia Richard, 1894. Recent work in the Waikato area has revealed a second very common species, C. cf. pulchella Sars, 1862. The two species differ in the structure of the postabdomen, postabdominal claw, antennules, ocellus, and ephippium. These morphological details, together with guidelines for the rapid identification of the two species from field samples, are discussed. © Crown copyright 1991.