Daphnia
/ˈdæf.ni.ə/noun
A genus of small freshwater crustaceans commonly called water fleas.
Did you know?Daphnia was named from Greek mythology, likely because these transparent crustaceans were associated with laurel-like or nymph-like imagery in early scientific naming, showing how classical myth seeped into taxonomy.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Daphnē
“Laurel tree; a nymph transformed into a laurel in myth”
18th Century
Latin
Daphnia
“A scientific genus name coined for these small crustaceans”
Modern English
English
Daphnia
“Any small freshwater crustacean of the genus Daphnia”
Modern Scientific Usage
Latin/English
Daphnia
“Standard zoological name used in biology and ecology”