Book 30, Question 53 · Video
What is a water flea, and can you see its heart?
Daphnia, or water fleas, are tiny see-through animals about as big as a poppy seed. They are not insects but crustaceans, relatives of shrimp and crabs. They swim with jerky hops using branched antennae, and they filter algae from the water. Under a microscope, you can see a heart beating inside their clear bodies, and sometimes eggs inside.
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What is a water flea, and can you see its heart?
The Big Idea
Some pond animals are see-through! You can even watch their hearts beat. What is a water flea?
Tiny Crustaceans
Step one: Tiny Crustaceans. Water fleas, or Daphnia, are tiny see-through animals about as big as a poppy seed. They are not insects but crustaceans, relatives of shrimp and crabs.
Hopping Swimmers
Step two: Hopping Swimmers. They swim with jerky hops using their branched antennae. They filter algae from the water to eat.
A Beating Heart
Step three: A Beating Heart. Under a microscope, you can see a heart beating inside their clear bodies. Sometimes you can see eggs inside them too.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! See-through. For swimming. Beats fast. Inside.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! A Daphnia heart can beat hundreds of times per minute. Related to crabs. They filter algae. They swim in hops.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, put a water flea in a dish of pond water. Look at it with a magnifier. Find its heart. Count the beats for ten seconds. Return it gently to the pond.
Outro
Water fleas, or Daphnia, are see-through crustaceans about the size of a poppy seed, related to shrimp and crabs. They hop through the water filtering algae, and under a microscope you can watch their hearts beat. Science is amazing! Remember, every big discovery starts with a small question. Keep looking, keep learning, and keep asking why! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!