cladoceran

noun

cla·​doc·​er·​an klə-ˈdä-sə-rən How to pronounce cladoceran (audio)
: any of an order (Cladocera) of minute chiefly freshwater branchiopod crustaceans that includes the water fleas

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Cladocera, a division of the branchiopods (from clado- clado- + -cera, borrowed from Greek -kera, neuter plural of -keros "having a horn of the kind specified," derivative of kéras "horn") + -an entry 1 — more at horn

Note: The taxon was introduced by Pierre André Latreille (1762-1833) in Georges cuvier, Le Règne animal distribué d'après son organisation, nouvelle édition (Paris, 1829), tome 4, Crustacés, arachnides et partie des insectes "par M. Latreille," p. 151. The name, literally "the ones having branched horns," refers to the water flea's branching antennae.

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cladoceran was in 1909

Rhymes for cladoceran

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Browse Nearby Words

Cladocera
cladoceran
Cladochytriaceae
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Cite this Entry

“Cladoceran.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cladoceran. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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