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TRICHOCERCIDAE, (REMANE, 1933) (family)

Jaws virgate. Mostly littoral and only a few   planktonic species. Trichocerca disappeared from Laguna de Bay in periods with increase in salinity showing sensitivity to the increased salinity. A decrease in mean density from 1.4 to 0.6 individuals m^-3 was found in Pasig River near the outlet of the brackish water Laguna de Bay to the saline Manila Bay by Papa and his team (2009)  

 

TRICHOCERCA, LAMARCK 1801, (syn. Diurella, Mastigocerca, Rattulus)
Lorica not flattened, asymmetrical, more or less
cylindrical. Foot short with toes of unequal length,
often with one toe almost reduced or absent.
Most species littoral.

60 a. With hood or plate-like projection on anterior margin of lorica. Two toes, right toe very short. Body long, slender, cylindrical. Size < 300 μm, left toe 125 μm. Sucks out the yolk of other rotifers eggs, especially Keratella, and attaches its eggs to other rotifers. Planktonic. Usually sporadic, rarely numerous.- Laguna de Bay, La Mesa Dam, Paoay Lake.
   Trichocerca capucina, (WIERZ, 1893),
    (syn. Diurella capucina).
      [1941, 1974, (T. longiseta),  
      1978a,b, 1980, 1984, 1986, 2008b]
 

T. capucina from Laguna de Bay

 

60 b. Without this. Body short  compact....................61

61 a. Single dorsal ridge or wide keel at the anterior end. 
Keel usually striated. One long toe. Size 170 μm.
- Lake Lanao, ponds in Lanao del sur.
   Trichocerca rattus, (MULLER, 1776)
      [1978a,b, 1986]
- In Lake Lanao in 1970-71 Lewis (1979) sampled a species of T., which were determined by B. Berzins. 
The species were correlated with abundance of bluegreen 
algae in occurrence.
   Trichocerca brachyura  (GOSSE, 1851)
      [1979b]

61 b. Without dorsal ridge..............................................62  

62 a. Right toe absent, or extremely small. Size 70-­110 my, 
left toe 40-60 um. Eggs attached to other rotifers like 
Brachionus angularis. Planktonic in lakes and ponds, 
also in brackish water. Usually sporadic.
- Bunot Lake, Laguna Lake
   Trichocerca pusilla, (LAUTERBORN, 1898)
      [1941, 1980, 1984, 1999]  

T. pusilla  from Laguna d Bay

 

62 b. Right toe present but much reduced. Left toe less
than half the body length. Anterior border of lorica 
with undulations. Size of body 120 μm.
Planktonic in tropical waters.
- Lake Danao. Tadlac Lake, Taal Lake.
   Trichocerca dixon-nuttalli (JENNINGS, 1903)
   (syn. Trichocerca ruttneri (DONNER, 1953))
   (syn. Trichocerca inermis (LINDER 1904))
       [1941, 1999]   

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