Rotifers

Phylum Rotifera

Rotifers, or "wheel animals", are members of the Phylum Rotifera, and are commonly found free-swimming in fresh water, or crawling on plants and decaying organic matter. Smaller than most protozoa, they are structurally complex, and multicellular, featuring a foot with adhesive glands at the posterior end and a ciliated mouth at the anterior end, together with a muscular pharynx, glandular stomach, intestinal tract, and anus.

Rotifers have a crown of cilia. The motion of these cilia give the appearance of rotating wheels around the head end of the organism.

See also : Rotifer Culture Media CM8

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