Water Flea (Noun)
Meaning 1
Minute free-swimming freshwater copepod having a large median eye and pear-shaped body and long antennae used in swimming; important in some food chains and as intermediate hosts of parasitic worms that affect man e.g. Guinea worms.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The water flea is an important link in the aquatic food chain, serving as a vital food source for small fish and other aquatic animals.
- Scientists studied the water flea's behavior and found that it uses its long antennae to detect vibrations and movement in the water.
- Water fleas have a unique pear-shaped body that allows them to move quickly and efficiently through the water.
- The parasitic worm that causes guinea worm disease uses the water flea as an intermediate host, allowing it to complete its life cycle and infect humans.
- In some ecosystems, water fleas are a crucial food source for juvenile fish, providing them with the necessary nutrients to grow and develop.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
Minute freshwater crustacean having a round body enclosed in a transparent shell; moves about like a flea by means of hairy branched antennae.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.