Department of Biology, Ripon College, Ripon, Wisconsin 54971.
Integr Comp Biol. 2002 Jul;42(3):660-7. doi: 10.1093/icb/42.3.660.
Rotifers comprise a modestly sized phylum (≈1,850 species) of tiny (ca. 50-2,000 μm), bilaterally symmetrical, eutelic metazoans, traditionally grouped within the pseudocoelomates or Aschelminthes. These saccate to cylindrically shaped protostomes possess three prominent regions (corona, trunk, foot). They are distinguished by a ciliated, anterior corona (used in locomotion and food gathering) and a pharynx equipped with a complex set of jaws. Unfortunately, these generalizations grossly oversimplify a rich and fascinating diversity. Chief among the charms of the study of rotifers are their ecological importance, ease of culture (including chemostat technology), and the fact that much remains unknown about this exquisite phylum.
轮虫动物门是一个相对较小的门（约 1850 种），由微小的（约 50-2000 微米）、两侧对称、真后生动物组成，传统上被归为假体腔动物或无体腔动物。这些囊状到圆柱形的原口动物有三个突出的区域（冠、干、足）。它们的特征是有一个具纤毛的、向前的冠（用于运动和食物收集）和一个配备有复杂的颚的咽。不幸的是，这些概括过于简化了丰富而迷人的多样性。轮虫研究的魅力之一在于它们的生态重要性、易于培养（包括恒化器技术），以及关于这个精致的门仍有许多未知的事实。
