These rotifers have malleoramate trophi. This order consists of 6 families separated using the following characteristics: 1. body illoricate, 2. body loricate, 3. six arm-like appendages with setae, 4. two anterior and one (or two) posterior setae, 5. foot present, 6. foot absent, 7. adult females normally sessile, 8. adult females free-swimming, colonial, 9. colonial, often in a gelatinous matrix.

     1,3,6      Hexarthridae    
     1,4,6      Filiniidae     
     1,5,7,(9)  Flosculariidae	   
     1,5,8,9    Conochilidae