# Vesikirp perekonnast Kiivrik (Daphnia)

- By: Janek Lass
- Date: 2023-07-09
- Classification: Photograph
- Museum: [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vesikirp_perekonnast_Kiivrik_(Daphnia).jpg)
- Rights: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
- Picture: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Vesikirp_perekonnast_Kiivrik_%28Daphnia%29.jpg/1920px-Vesikirp_perekonnast_Kiivrik_%28Daphnia%29.jpg
- Who can see it: Kids profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

A water flea of genus Daphnia photographed under a microscope using an 8x objective. The specimen was collected on July 9, 2023. Of particular interest is the dark resting egg or ephippium in the dorsal brood pouch - this is a specialized resistant structure that forms when environmental conditions become unfavorable. The production of resting eggs is a survival strategy of water fleas, allowing them to survive adverse conditions, similar to plant seeds. The transparent body also shows a characteristic reticulated pattern and bluish tints. The specimen was photographed against a black background, which highlights the transparent carapace and the dark resting egg within. The lighting technique used was reflected light from a photographic speedlight flash, which particularly emphasizes the surface structures. The image was created using focus stacking technique, which ensures great depth of field throughout the subject.