Adineta is a group of rotifers found in water all over the world. Like other rotifers, they have a special mouth to suck in food.
Adineta is a group of rotifers found in water all over the world. Like other rotifers, they have a special mouth to suck in food.
Crown
There are up to 2,000 different species of rotifers, all of which have the same type of physique. Each rotifer consists of three parts; a head, a body and a foot. On its head, the rotifer has a mouth with which it can suck up food and water. This mouth has a whorl of cogs around it that is also described as a 'crown'. By spinning the crown like a wheel, a vortex is created that allows the rotifer to suck food in.
Cleaners
Rotifers are mainly found in freshwater, but some Adineta species live in the sea. Also, Adineta are more tolerant to environmental changes than other rotifers. This allows them to survive dehydration and significant temperature changes. Adineta also eat other organisms such as bacteria, yeasts and algae. Rotifers are therefore often used as to clean aquariums.
Women's party
The group of Adineta is part of a class called Bdelloidea, and consists exclusively of females. For reproduction, they lay eggs from which new females hatch every time. Normally, the fusion of both male and female genes during reproduction creates genetic diversity. Essential for a species to adapt to changing conditions. To still generate new genetic diversity, Adineta species employ a process called gene conversion. Systems that are normally intended for DNA repair are used to exchange pieces of DNA (alleles) with each other. Super smart!
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