After G.O. Sars found Moina macrocopa in small number in a pond in Oslo in the summer of 1860, the species is only recorded from three dirty ponds west of Oslo characterized by high loads of sulphate, natrium and magnesium.

Key characteristics

Moina macrocopa has a head which is comparatively large constituting about one fourth of its body. The eye is large and located somewhat higher compared to the eye in M. brachiata. Its carapace has a square look being about as long as it is wide. The postabdomen, which is broad at the base but tapers strongly towards the end, is almost hidden by the carapace. In contrast to M. brachiata, M. macrocopa has no teeth at the base of the abdominal claw. It is almost hyaline with a tinge of green or yellow.

Female: Length 0.8–1.8 mm

Male: Length 0.5–0.9 mm

Ecology and distribution

G. O. Sars found Moina macrocopa in small numbers in a pond in Oslo in the summer of 1860. According to Sars the water was very dirty and dominated by its close relative, M. brachiata. The next time the species was recorded, was in 2007 in three dirty ponds in Lier, west of Oslo. These ponds were situated close to a roadway and characterized by high loads of sulphate (110 og 286 mg/l), Na (30 og 25 mg/l) and Mg (19 og 41 mg/l).  

Look-alikes

Moina brachiata