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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.
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Taphrocampa annulosa Gosse, as seen from above; body curved so that the food is not visible.
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Pleurotrocha parasitica n. sp. Ventral view.
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It is caracterised by a round tail and short toes.
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Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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San Martin De Castaneda, Castille and Leon, Spain
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Ribadelago de Franco, Castille and Leon, Spain
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Ribadelago, Castille and Leon, Spain
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Body is cylindrical and ventrally very curved.
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Galende, Castille and Leon, Spain
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Urbanitzacio El Lledoner, Catalonia, Spain
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Muelas del Pan, Castille and Leon, Spain
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Villoslada de Cameros, La Rioja, Spain
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Monommata, a rotifer with two very long posterior spines. The spines are motile and can flex. Phase contrast micrograph.
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Taphrocampa annulosa Gosse. Side view.
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Pleurotrocha parasitica n. sp. Side view.
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Ribadelago, Castille and Leon, Spain
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Ribadelago, Castille and Leon, Spain
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, Andaluca, Espaa
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Muelas del Pan, Castille and Leon, Spain
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Villoslada de Cameros, La Rioja, Spain
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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.
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Covaleda, Castille and Leon, Spain
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Courtesy of ANSP (Jersabek et al. 2003); females, dorsal (1553 left specimen) and lateral (203, 1553 right specimens) views, and trophus (1555 lateral view)