Bdelloidea

Order Bdelloidea:

Key characteristics of the bdelloids include paired ovaries with vitellaria, more than two pedal glands, and ramate trophi. Bdelloids often have a vermiform body, occur in mosses, sediments, soils, among plant debris, or crawling on aquatic vegetation. Many species are capable of becoming dessicated and then rehydrated.

The families are distinguished based on: 1. stomach without lumen, 2. stomach with lumen, 3. food vacuoles in stomach present, 4. food vacuoles in stomach absent, 5. corona broad, two separate trochi, 6. corona narrow, two separate trochi, 7. corona only tow ciliated lobes next to mouth. Rostrum ciliated, 8. corona a flat ciliated field near mouth. No cingulum.


     1,3,5,6  Habrotrochidae    
     2,4,5    Philodinidae      
     2,4,7    Philodinavidae       
     2,4,8    Adinetidae

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