ROTIFERA, Rotifers.
Species of Philippine rotifers.
MONOGONONTA, WESENBERG-LUND 1899 (class).
PLIOMA, HUDSON & GOSSE 1888 (order).
BRACHIONIDAE, HUDSON & GOSSE 1888 (family)
Jaws malleate, planktonic as well as littoral species
BRACHIONUS, PALLAS 1766
Foot and foot opening present (foot often retracted
up into thebody on formalin preserved specimens).
Foot wrinkled, wormlike, long flexible and retractile.
Lorica more or less flattened dorsoventrally, with 2, 4
or 6 anterior spines and with posterior rounded or
with 2 or 4 spines. Lorica absent, i.e. cuticle thin
and flexible, not usually retaining its shape well
after preservation. Large sack-shaped, with corona
(wheel organ) anteriorly. Rather big viviparous
rotifers Planktonic family. Jaws incudate.
Curved, sharp-pointed rami like pincers.
Seizing type. Intestine and anus absent. Asplanchna
releases a waterborne signal that induces spine
formation in several Brachionus species (Snell, 1998).
The presence of Asplanchna could then be responsible for
the development of spines. Planktonic.
bach to 34a
35 a. 6 anterior spines on lorica.....................................36
35 b. Less than 6 anterior spines on lorica...........................37
36 a. Always 6 short, conical anterior spines on lorica. Body oval,
slightly compressed dorsoventrally.URCEOLARIS GROUP............................................38
36 b. 6 long, pointed dorso-anterior spines on lorica, median
or rarely lateral spines longest.QUADRIDENTATUS GROUP........................................41
36 c. Submedian spines longest (se 45a)...............................37
37 a. Always 4 pointed anterior spines of varying length and shape
present on lorica. Body sacciform.
CALYCIFLORUS GROUP..........................................42
37 b. 2 small, pointed or blunt median anterior spines present, or,
4 anterior spines present: 2 small, pointed median spines, and 2
long, pointed lateral spines, or,
6 anterior spines present, with 2 exceptionally long Submedian
spines present (see 45a). Body oval, slightly
compressed dorsoventrally.
ANGULARIS GROUP.............................................43
To 38 a.