In the presented research program we want to initiate the study of speciation patterns of Daphnia in a tropical and subtropical region, in comparison with patterns in temperate regions. On a continental scale preliminary data suggest that African species can be divided into three historically-biogeographically and genetically relevant groups: (1) old African endemic species, without near relatives on other continents, (2) relatively young endemic species with sister clades on other continents, and (3) species with broad geographic ranges occurring on different continents, without clear genetic divergence. These data also suggest that regional endimism in Africa is more widespread than previously thought. Moreover, these results support the idea that on an intercontinental scale sweepstake dispersal events may have been important in the initial dispersal and subsequent isolation and speciation of current sister taxa. The current dataset from a pilot study is however far from complete, and requires more in-depth research. With this research we want to provide an onset for the investigation of macro-evolutionary patterns at different taxonomic levels and geographic scales.