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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 774

George William Salt, Gail F. Sabbadini, and Martha L. Commins; Trophi morphology relative to food habits in six species of rotifers (Asplanchnidae). Trans.Amer.Micros.Soc. 97(4):469-485, 1978

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Asplanchna brightwelli, A. girodi, A. priodonta, A. sieboldi, A. silvestrii, and Asplanchnopus multiceps co-occur in the water of the lower Mokelumne River in central California. They are similar in body form and in the structure of their trophi. Differences in trophi morphology can be correlated with differences in the foods consumed by each species. Strong adductor muscles associated with either expanded bases of the rami, as in Asplanchnopus, or large apophyses, as in A. silvestrii and A. sieboldi, together with pointed tips to the rami are correlated with the consumption of larger prey than that consumed by A. girodi and A. priodonta which lack these features. A. brightwelli is intermediate between the two groups. The capability for apposition of the rami of the trophi in the midline in A. priodonta and A. silvestrii appears to be correlated with the use of diatoms for food. Other correlations are also observed.