AN UNCOMMON BDELLOID ROTIFER - ABROCHTHA-INTERMEDIA (DEBEAUCHAMP, 1909)

Abrochtha intermedia (de Beauchamp, 1909) is a bdelloid rotifer belong ing to the Philodinavidae family. This species has not been recorded s ince its discovery and original description in 1909. In this paper we redescribe this rotifer. Scanning electron microscopy revealed its uni que rotatory apparatus that is hitherto unknown. Unlike that of other bdelloids its corona consists of a ciliated band limited by a preoral ciliation, an undivided trochus, and by a postoral ciliation, the cing ulum. Other morphological characters, such as the rostrum, the dorsal antenna and the foot with spurs and toes, are common to all bdelloids. Some observations of A. intermedia feeding and swimming behaviour are given.