ON the surface of the water is a single Cyclopean eye. Close by, an unsuspecting water flea bounces along until, in an interlocking of multiple limbs, it is trapped then held as the owner of the eye slowly plucks it to pieces. Meet the giant water flea (Leptodora kindtii), the largest water flea in the UK and a stealthy, raptorial carnivore.
Water fleas are a fascinating group of aquatic crustaceans – mostly small, filter-feeding and planktonic – that make up a large component of many freshwater habitats. They bob around and graze on microscopic plant plankton, effectively turning those green sunlight-converters into animal protein that percolates its way up the food chain. In short, if it wasn’t for water fleas then we wouldn’t have newts, fish or dragonflies.
Esta historia es de la edición July 2023 de BBC Wildlife.
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Esta historia es de la edición July 2023 de BBC Wildlife.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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Imagine (or maybe you don't need to) that you hanker after the safari trip of a lifetime in sub-Saharan Africa. A 17-day tour beginning at the iconic Victoria Falls, passing through Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania, taking in some of the continent’s most wildlife-rich national parks, and ending on the lush island of Zanzibar.
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Urgent action is needed to ensure survival of the Yoda-like primate
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VISIONS OF NATURE
The winners of the Wildlife Artist of the Year competition 2024, from David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation
