Mean Critter with Spikes

[rabitt]

Tried searching for this this guy to ID him but no luck.






I'm having problems getting these to open, hope it works this time.

[c-krebs]

Fascinating! Certainly looks like a rotifer, but I've not seen one with all those spines on the back of the lorica (that does not say much since there are 2200 species of described rotifers, the majority of which I have not seen )

Nice find and pictures. I would think it is not that commonly seen.

[75RR]

Very interesting. Does look like a rotifer. Looking forward to someone coming up with an ID

[gekko]

Very interesting indeed. I've never come across it.

[Bruce Taylor]

Looks like a tough customer.

Rotifers are not in my wheelhouse, but nobody else has suggested a name, so...consider Macrochaetus subquadratus.

[75RR]

Did a search using the term Macrochaetus subquadratus, surprised to see so many armored rotifers!

[rabitt]

Bruce Taylor you are correct.

In continuing my search to ID the Rotifer I managed to contact Dr. John Havel, Professor Emeritus of Biology at Missouri State University. He referred me to Dr. Robert Wallace, Ph.D. Department of Biology
Ripon Collage, Wisconsin.
This is Dr. Wallace’s response, Quote:

“Richard,
Thanks for sharing your photos.
The rotifer is in Class Eurotatoria, Subclass Monogononta, Order Ploima, Family Trichotridae, and Genus Macrochaetus. I would need preserved samples to take it to the level of species.
Bob”

Dr. Wallace has written several papers on Rotifers including their ID

[Bruce Taylor]

Excellent!