rotifer

American  

[roh-tuh-fer] / ˈroʊ tə fər /

noun

1. any microscopic animal of the phylum (or class) Rotifera, found in fresh and salt waters, having one or more rings of cilia on the anterior end.

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rotifer British  

/ rəʊˈtɪfərəl, ˈrəʊtɪfə /

noun

1. Also called: wheel animalcule.  any minute aquatic multicellular invertebrate of the phylum Rotifera , having a ciliated wheel-like organ used in feeding and locomotion: common constituents of freshwater plankton

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rotifer Scientific  

/ rō′tə-fər /

1. Any of various tiny, multicellular aquatic animals of the phylum Rotifera, having a wheel-like ring of cilia at their front ends. The cilia trap small organisms for food. Rotifers are grouped by some scientists together with nematodes and some other invertebrates as aschelminths.

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Other Word Forms

• rotiferal
  adjective
• rotiferous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of rotifer

From New Latin, dating back to 1785–95; see origin at Rotifera

Example Sentences

But it is probably alone in being the subject of a recent music video tribute by the Austrian musician Robert Rotifer, which is also in the show.

From New York Times • Sep. 19, 2010

Rotifer, rōt′if-ėr, n. one of a class of minute aquatic animals, popularly called wheel-animalcules, with an anterior equipment of cilia whose movements suggest a rapidly rotating wheel:—pl.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

Keeping him company was another little Rotifer, named after its appearance, Monocerca rattus, the 'One-tailed Rat.'

From Marvels of Pond-life A Year's Microscopic Recreations by Slack, Henry J.

Having commenced our microscopic proceedings by obtaining some Euglenæ, Vorticellæ, and a Rotifer, we are in a position to consider the chief characteristics of three great divisions of infusoria, which will often engage our attention.

From Marvels of Pond-life A Year's Microscopic Recreations by Slack, Henry J.

It must be concluded that the formation of the Vaucheria gall is induced by the mechanical irritation which the Rotifer causes in the protoplasm.

From Disease in Plants by Ward, H. Marshall