Cyclops insignis is a winter form with diapause in summer, and therefore common in early spring and late autumn. It is the largest Cyclops species and its antennae consists of 14 joints which distinguish this species from all other species within the genus.

Key characteristics

Cyclops insignis is the largest species in this genus. Its antennae consists of 14 joints which distinguish this species from all other species within the genus Cyclops. It has a furca which is comparatively longer than in the other Cyclops species, and the two branches have a narrow linear form and are only slightly divergent. C. insignis can be distinguished from its relatives by the appearance of the seta attached to the 1. basal segment of the 4. pair of legs. As in C. scutifer, this is much coarser than in other Cyclops species. Its colour is yellowish, with a more or less distinct olivaceous tinge.

Female: Length 2.1–2.8 mm

Male: Length approximately 2.5 mm

Ecology and distribution

C. insignis is found in slightly more than 1 % of the surveyed localities. Except for one (Finnmark county), all records are from the vicinity of Oslo and the majority are from ditches and small ponds situated in the lowland. pH<6.5 was only measured in two of these water bodies which were characterised by high levels of electrolytes. It is a winter form with diapause in summer, and therefore it has only been common in early spring and late autumn.

    pH
    Vitenskapelig navn < 4,5 4,5 - 4,9 5,0 - 5,4 5,5 - 5,9 6,0 - 6,4 6,5 - 7,0 7,0 - 7,4 > 7,5
    0 0,4 0 0,6 0,3 2,8 1,8 5,6
    Ledningsevne (m S/m)|Conductivity (m S/m)
    Vitenskapelig navn < 1,0 1,0 - 1,4 1,5 - 1,9 2,0 - 2,9 3,0 - 3,9 4,0 - 4,9 5,0 - 6,9 7,0 - 9,9 > 10,0
    0 0,4 0 0,7 0,4 1,9 4,7 4,6 4,8
    Innsjøareal (da)|Surface area (da)
    Vitenskapelig navn < 0,01 0,01 - 0,09 0,1 - 0,9 1,0 - 9,9 10,0 - 99 100 - 999 > 1000
    10,8 5,5 0,8 0,8 0,4 0,3 0
    Høyde over havet (moh.)|Elevation (m a.s.l.)
    Vitenskapelig navn < 100 100-299 300-499 500-699 700-999 >1000
    0,2 3,9 0,7 0 0 0

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