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Issue: Vol. 5471 No. 4: 20 Jun. 2024
Type: Article
Published: 2024-06-20
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5471.4.1
Page range: 401-421
Abstract views: 3
PDF downloaded: 1

Key to sessile gnesiotrochan rotifers: Floscularia (Monogononta; Flosculariidae)

Department of Biology; Ripon College; Ripon; WI; 54971; USA
Department of Biology; Ripon College; Ripon; WI; 54971; USA
University of Massachusetts Lowell; Lowell; MA; 01854; USA
Department of Biological Sciences; University of Texas at El Paso; El Paso; TX; 79968; USA
Department of Biology; Ripon College; Ripon; WI; 54971; USA
Rotifera Coloniality dichotomous key Gnesiotrocha larvae morphology Rotiferasessile solitary

Abstract

Correct identification of species is necessary if we are to understand their biology, ecology, and evolutionary history, as well as to catalog their global biodiversity. This is acutely critical for many micrometazoans like rotifers, which are often difficult to identify because of their small size and complicated morphologies. Rotifers are ubiquitous micrometazoans that are found worldwide in fresh, brackish, and some marine waters. However, their study is hindered by a lack of both taxonomic expertise and concomitantly adequate guides to the identification of some taxa. These deficiencies are particularly true for the sessile species. To help alleviate these impediments, we assembled information from the literature on easily recognizable characters of all nine valid species in one notable genus: Floscularia (Monogononta; Gnesiotrocha; Flosculariidae). Using that information we developed a simple, dichotomous key to enable workers to identify species in this genus. Our key emphasizes easily observable characters of adult female morphology, including features of their tubes, anterior ends, trophi, and colony formation abilities, thereby allowing for relatively quick identification.

 

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