Rotifer mystery... ??

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:54 pm

I have recently found two bdelloid rotifers showing this same "condition".
The body is filled with numerous, free floating small spheres looking very much like tiny "peppercorns". In both cases the rotifers were very active, and appeared to be feeding normally. I looked, but did not see any of these spheres in the water outside the specimen. If they were a food item, it sure did not seem that there were enough present to account for the numbers in the rotifer's body.

So any thoughts on what this is? While the rotifers were active, my initial impression was possibly some type of parasite or fungus, but I just don't have a clue!

This third shot is of the rotifer's mastax in action, stopped by the electronic flash. (Specially posted for Michel!) The two prominent diagonal bands appeared to me to be muscles that aided in pulling this "crushing device" closed.

verolet · Post by **verolet** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 2:17 pm

Bonjour Charles
For the 2 band pointed on the part of your pictures , these are not muscles but the main teeth ot the trophus

For the others things (fungi or something else) if you want i can ask to a specialist of the bdelloïds
Michel

gpmatthews · Post by **gpmatthews** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 4:43 pm

"Pellets" similar to these are characteristic of Habrotrocha, see e.g. my rotifer page at http://www.gpmatthews.nildram.co.uk/mic ... ifers.html

bernhardinho · Post by **bernhardinho** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 5:01 pm

Hi Charles,

couldn't it be a Habrotrocha? These transform their food intake into pills that float throughout the plasma. I haven't yet seen so many though, but it's just a thought. See this for instance: http://www.plingfactory.de/Science/Atla ... 20sp..html

Bernhard

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:35 pm

Thank you all for your replies. I learned several new things from this post... this is one of the things I enjoy most about the interactions here!

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:45 pm

All I can say is they are incredibly sharp with lots of detail Charles and for you not to have seen them before means it must be something important to learn about. The second shot have some fantastic textures on those small spheres

Wim van Egmond · Post by **Wim van Egmond** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 5:40 am

Friends,

Sorry that I am so silent, too much work.

I have seen many species of rotifers with pellets and other growths inside and I also always thought it had to do with some sort of infestation. You also see many with fungi inside.

But this could perhaps be food. They actually look a bit like pollen!

Wim