Chapter 8 - Phylum Rotifera

Rotifers, or wheel animals, are a group of tiny (<2000 ?m) invertebrates that have fascinated people ever since the late 17th century. The monophyletic origin of the three main groups of the phylum (Bdelloidea, Monogononta, and Seisonacea) is widely accepted, as well as their close relationship with phylum Acanthocephala. The two main groups of rotifers, Bdelloidea and Monogononta, comprise 34 families and 132 genera worldwide. Of these, 30 families and 94 genera are present in the Neotropics and in Antarctica. The inland waters of the Neotropics host approximately 744 species (623 Monogononta and 121 Bdelloidea); the Antarctica and surrounding islands host 165 species (120 Monogononta and 45 Bdelloidea). Material preparation and preservation of rotifers is also discussed in this chapter other than their classification.