What's up with this Keratella rotifer?

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 7:05 pm

This rotifer is very common in my pond. I see it regularly and have posted shots of it before. My latest water sample has very large numbers present. About 1/2 of the ones I have observed in this sample are covered by these fine "hairlike" growths or attachments. Very bizarre looking, and something I have not seen before. They have no apparent structures or features, and no apparent motion... at least with the 20X and 40X. I'll try to get a better look with the 100X. The rotifers seem to be healthy... moving about and feeding actively (this one is dragging an egg behind it).

My first wild guess is a fungus of some sort.... don't know. Any thoughts?

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 8:42 am

Execellent photo Charles. Are all those dots on the surface related to the hair-like growths? The surface textures on the creature are fantastic.