Neurogenesis in the water flea Daphnia magna (Crustacea, Branchiopoda) suggests different mechanisms of neuroblast formation in insects and crustaceans

► Neuroblasts are present in the branchiopod crustacean Daphnia magna. ► D. magna neuroblasts divide in the same mode as in insects and malacostracans. ► D. magna neuroblasts are not selected from proneural clusters. ► Dam snail, rather than Dam ASH, is first expressed in neuroblasts. ► Dam ASH seems not to be required for the selection of neuroblasts.