Euchlanis (glass rotifer)
Euchlanis spp. · Aquatic life
Under the microscope · Photo: Don Loarie / CC BY
Also called Littoral rotifer, Euchlanis dilatata
How to identify Euchlanis (glass rotifer)
- Microscopic but fairly large, about 0.1 to 0.4 mm
- Thin, glassy, flattened shell, often with a ridge on the back
- Two long, blade shaped toes
- Lives among plants rather than in open water
Similar species
Lecane is smaller and flatter; Brachionus has front spines and lives mostly in open water.
Profile
| Season | Spring through fall. |
|---|---|
| Depth | Among plants |
| How it spreads or reproduces | Females clone themselves through the season; tough resting eggs survive drying and travel on birds, wind and equipment |
| Habitat | Weedy shallows of ponds, marshes and lake edges. |
Why it matters in a lake
A common plant bed rotifer that grazes algae and detritus.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Common
- Oregon: Common
- Wyoming: Occasional
Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Rotifera |
| Class | Eurotatoria |
| Order | Ploima |
| Family | Euchlanidae |
| Scientific name | Euchlanis spp. |
Keratella (spined rotifer)
Polyarthra (feather rotifer)
Brachionus (rotifer)
Asplanchna (sac rotifer)
Kellicottia (long spine rotifer)
Filinia (bristle rotifer)
Synchaeta (cold water rotifer)
Trichocerca (rat tail rotifer)
Conochilus (colonial rotifer)
Lecane (flat rotifer)Need a hand?
Found it in your lake?
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Idaho / Wyoming (208) 501-4531Oregon (541) 280-0596