. The popular natural history . Zoology. 588 WHEEL ANIMALCULES. ROTIFERA. Although the Rotifera, or Wheel Animalcules, are generally placed among the Infusoria, on account of their minute dimensions and aquatic habits, it is evident, from many peculiarities of their formation, that they deserve a much higher place, and in all probability constitute a class by themselves. They are called Wheel Animalcules on account of a curious structure which is found upon many of their members, and which looks very like a pair of revolving wheels set upon the head. These so-called wheels are two disc- like l
. The popular natural history . Zoology. 588 WHEEL ANIMALCULES. ROTIFERA. Although the Rotifera, or Wheel Animalcules, are generally placed among the Infusoria, on account of their minute dimensions and aquatic habits, it is evident, from many peculiarities of their formation, that they deserve a much higher place, and in all probability constitute a class by themselves. They are called Wheel Animalcules on account of a curious structure which is found upon many of their members, and which looks very like a pair of revolving wheels set upon the head. These so-called wheels are two disc- like lobes, the edges of which are fringed with cilia, which when in movement. RotifiT c â Irmus. give to the creature an appearance as if it wore wheels on its head, like those of the fairy knight of ballad poetry. These wheels can be drawn into the body at will, or protruded to some little extent, and their object is evidently to procure food by causing currents of water to flow across the mouth. All, however, do not possess these appendages, but have a row of cilia, mostly broken into lobes, extending all round the upper portion of the body. These remarkable beings are mostly found in water that has become stagnant but is partially purified by the presence of the Infusorians, which always swarm in such localities. The typical genus of this class is known by the name of Rotifer, an example of which is seen in the illustration. In all the members of this genus the body is rather elongated, and furnished at the hinder end with a kind of telescopic tail, by means of which they can attach themselves at will to any object, and release themselves whenever they please. Sometimes they move their bodies gently about, while still grasping by the extremity of the tail; soinetimes they are nearly motionless, while they frequently rock them- selves backwards and forwards so violently that they seem almost to be testing the strength of their hold. These creatures can both swim and crawl, the fo
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
