The reproduction organ of the bdelloid rotifers is the germovitellarium. In contrast to the monogonont rotifers the bdelloid rotifers have two, which gives them their other name: Digononta |
|
This image of a heavily compressed specimen of Adineta shows the two germovitellaria. The arrows point to the nuclei of the ovary. The number of the nuclei in the ovary is normally 8 in most bdelloid species. (There are exceptions). The arrowheads in the lower right germovitellarium point to the nuclei of the (syncytial) vitellarium,the number of which is also 8 in most species (with exceptions). For the identification and documentation of the number of nuclei it is essential to focus through the whole specimen to gather the information about all nuclei! |
|
Rotifers can be stained with Neutral Red keeping thme alive for a certain time to make their morphology better visible. The dye shows that there are unambigously only 4 nuclei in the vitellarium of Adineta gracilis |
|
|
|
|
|
|