AuthorPontin, R.M.
Year1978
TitleKey to the British Freshwater Planktonic Rotifera
ISBN0 900386 33 9
SeriesFBA Scientific Publication
TypeBook/Report
How CompleteCovers all planktonic and semi-planktonic UK and Irish species known at the time.
SourceFBA Scientific Publication, No. 38, 178pp, Freshwater Biological Association
Illustrationsline drawings accompany the text
Review (by Malcolm Storey)

The main body of the work is the dichotomous keys: to genera (females), then for each genus: key to species (females). Each species has a short account giving habitat and season. Notes on non-planktonic and/or non-freshwater species are given at the end of each genus.

Finally, a key to genera (males) is given, but they are taken no further, although the entries for the females include notes on the males.

Examine Compound Microscope
Specimen PreparationAlive, trapped under a coverslip (compressorium) or perhaps slowed down by cotton wool strands or Methyl Cellulose. Or narcotised (physostigmine salicylate, tricaine methane sulphonate or 1% formalin or alcohol). Narcotised animals may be preserved in 5% formalin or slide-mounted in polyvinyl lactophenol with lignin pink to show the jaws. To see the necessary characters, it’s best to use multiple individuals rather than manipulation, but make sure they’re all the same species!

Notes & PurposeStatusTaxonEnglishClassification
For identificationCurrentROTIFERArotifersAnimalia
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