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Image of Keratella tropica (Apstein 1907)
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Keratella tropica (Apstein 1907)

Distribution

provided by Marine Rotifera LifeDesk

It is widely distributed in tropical waters and extends very often into subtropical areas as a summer form.

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Leasi, Francesca
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Leasi, Francesca

Look Alikes

provided by Marine Rotifera LifeDesk

This species was separated from K. valga by Berzins (1955). The distinguishing character, i.e. the hindmost median plaque of the dorsal lorica (the "postero-median remnant" according to the terminology used by Ahlstrom 1943), is clearly discernible in most individuals, although in some specimens it was very small and hardy visible.

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cc-by-nc
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Leasi, Francesca
author
Leasi, Francesca

Morphology

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Lorica compressed dorsoventrally. The anterior dorsal margin with six spines, medians being the longest, stoutest and curved ventralward. Lateral usually little longer than intermediate. Lorica with two unequal posterior spines. Right spine being always longer than the left. The left posterior spine is being absent in some specimens. The dorsal surface of lorica consists of three median polygones and a small four sides structure and three pairs of marginals. It bears two posterior spines on the lorica with the left spine shorter than the exuberant right one. This species show morphological (cyclomorphic) variation.

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copyright
Leasi, Francesca
author
Leasi, Francesca

Size

provided by Marine Rotifera LifeDesk

Lorica length 150-240 µm; width 65-90 µm; left posterior spine 32 µm; right posterior spine 85 µm.

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cc-by-nc
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Leasi, Francesca
author
Leasi, Francesca

Alien species

provided by World Register of Marine Species
Het tropisch puzzelraderdier Keratella tropica is, zoals de meeste raderdiertjes, wijdverspreid. Het diertje is vooral gekend in tropisch en subtropisch zoetwater, maar gedijt in de zomer ook goed in gematigde streken. Dit raderdiertje is een vrijzwemmende soort die ook brak water tolereert. Via het transport met ballastwater van schepen doorheen kanalen of via vogels, belandde deze soort in onze contreien. In België werd dit diertje voor het eerst waargenomen in 1974 in het Donkmeer en in de Gentse Watersportbaan in Oost-Vlaanderen. Momenteel heeft deze soort de bovenloop van de Schelde en de Zeeschelde gekoloniseerd

Reference

VLIZ Alien Species Consortium. (2010).

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cc-by-4.0
copyright
WoRMS Editorial Board
contributor
Vandepitte, Leen [email]

Alien species

provided by World Register of Marine Species
Keratella tropica is, like most rotifers, widely distributed. This species is mainly found in tropical and subtropical freshwater, but during summer it also thrives in temperate areas. This rotifer is a free-swimming species that tolerates brackish water. By transport in the ballast water of ships that pass through channels or via birds, the species reached Belgian regions. This species was first reported in Belgium in 1974 at Donkmeer, and at the Ghent Watersportbaan (East Flanders). At the moment, the species has colonized the upper reaches of the Scheldt river as wel as the Sea Scheldt.

Reference

VLIZ Alien Species Consortium. (2010).

license
cc-by-4.0
copyright
WoRMS Editorial Board
contributor
Vandepitte, Leen [email]