Rotifer Identification: Lecanidae Morphology Important features Classification Identification do’s and don’ts Problems Biogeography Diversity Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

Morphology Ventral view Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

Morphology: important features Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

Morphology: important features Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

Classification Lecanidae = Lecane Formerly: Lecane, Hemimonostyla, Monostyla Related to Proalidae Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

Identification do’s and don’ts Work: Segers 1995 and recent publications Do: Always: 1000x, immersion oil Well-contracted specimens! External morphology Small details! Don’t: Squeeze the animals Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

Problems Taxonomy of closely related taxa e.g.: L. curvicornis group Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

Biogeography Many cosmopolitan species Latitudinal variation endemism important, diverse patterns Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

Diversity & Ecology Ca. 200 species Predominantly tropical/warm water Habitat: littoral, benthonic, interstitial most acidophilic (exception: L. papuana) in crab gill chambers, … Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010