Notommatidae

Monommata (mon-owe-mat-a), a rotifer (metazoa). Rotifers typically have an exoskeleton in segments which can telescope, with a corona of feeding cilia at the anterior end and with toes or podites posteriorly. This genus has very strongly developed toes, and muscle fibres can be seen within the toes. The toes can flick suddenly. Rotifers are common members of the microbial communities of many aquatic ecosystems. Although they are multiceullar animals, they may be only be 100 microns long, and so overlap in size with ciliates. They can be confused with ciliates because they use cilia to capture their food. However, they can be distinguished because they have an exoskeleton, usually two posterior toes, and a tough pharyngeal region just behind the head.

Taphrocampa annulosa Gosse, as seen from above; body curved so that the food is not visible.

Pleurotrocha parasitica n. sp. Ventral view.

It is caracterised by a round tail and short toes.

Madrid, Madrid, Spain

San Martin De Castaneda, Castille and Leon, Spain

Ribadelago de Franco, Castille and Leon, Spain

Ribadelago, Castille and Leon, Spain

Body is cylindrical and ventrally very curved.

Galende, Castille and Leon, Spain

Urbanitzacio El Lledoner, Catalonia, Spain

Muelas del Pan, Castille and Leon, Spain

Villoslada de Cameros, La Rioja, Spain

Longitude (deg): -2.4. Latitude (deg): 53.5. Longitude (deg/min): 2° 20' W. Latitude (deg/min): 53° 30' N. Vice county name: South Lancs. Vice county no.: 59. Country: England. Associated species: Vaucheria. Identified by: Roger Morris. Comment: galls in Vaucheria sample cultured in tap water. Category: microscope photograph. Image scaling: microscope low magnification. Photographic equipment used: Canon EOS10D dSLR and Meiji microscope with x2.5 projection eye-piece. DPI defaulting to 72.

Monommata, a rotifer with two very long posterior spines. The spines are motile and can flex. Phase contrast micrograph.

Taphrocampa annulosa Gosse. Side view.

Pleurotrocha parasitica n. sp. Side view.

Ribadelago, Castille and Leon, Spain

Ribadelago, Castille and Leon, Spain

, Andaluca, Espaa

Muelas del Pan, Castille and Leon, Spain

Villoslada de Cameros, La Rioja, Spain

Longitude (deg): -2.4. Latitude (deg): 53.5. Longitude (deg/min): 2° 20' W. Latitude (deg/min): 53° 30' N. Vice county name: South Lancs. Vice county no.: 59. Country: England. Associated species: Vaucheria. Identified by: Roger Morris. Comment: galls in Vaucheria sample cultured in tap water. Category: microscope photograph. Image scaling: microscope low magnification. Photographic equipment used: Canon EOS10D dSLR and Meiji microscope with x2.5 projection eye-piece. DPI defaulting to 72.

This rotifer has two very long and retractible 'toes'. The ingestion region is to the left - some cilia of the wheel organ are visible. The body includes an ovary (lower) and gut (upper). Phase contrast microscopy.