portrait

Description:

Keratella, a rotifer (metazoa). Rotifers typically have a stiffened body wall (lorica) in segments which can telescope, with a corona of feeding cilia at the anterior end and with toes posteriorly. This genus has no foot nor toe, as an adaptation to a pelagic life. Rotifers are common members of the microbial communities of many aquatic ecosystems. Although they are multicellular 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 a lorica, may have podites, and a strong muscular pharynx.