Taxonomic key for protists and micro-metazoan groups found in freshwater habitats
by Lawrence Francis Whatley
This taxonomic key was assembled as part of a Nuffield Foundation Science Project (Cryptic biodiversity) in
2010.
Part 1
Description
Group
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Single celled organisms that
move using one or more
flagella
Flagellates
Single celled organisms that
move using pseudopods,
and may live in a test often
made of material from their
habitat
Amoebae
Single celled organisms that
move using their many cilia Ciliates
Multi celled, flat, worm like
animals with cilia
Turbellarians
Multi celled animals with
one or two rotating rings of
cilia around the mouth
Rotifers
Multi celled animals covered
in hairs, often with two
spikes on the end of their
body
Gastrotrichs
Multi celled, transparent
worm like animals
Nematodes
1
Part 2
Description
Group
Multi celled segmented
worms with bristles
Oligochaetes
Multi celled animals,
microscopic arachnids
Mites
Multi celled, segmented
animals with eight stumpy
legs ending in claws
Tardigrades
Multi celled animals whose
body is mainly covered by
two valves, with a clear
head region
MicrocrustaceaCladocerans
Multi celled animals with a
teardrop shaped body, tail
and two antennae
MicrocrustaceaCopepods
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Multi celled, seed shaped
animals whose body is
completely encased in two Microcrustaceavalves that resemble a shell Ostracods
A variety of multi celled
animals with external gills
Insect larvae
2
Species list for all pictures (all pictures from species found in Dorset, UK)
Flagellates
Picture 1
Synura sp.
Picture 2
Proterioochromonas sp.
Picture 3
Euglena sp.
Amoebae
Picture 1
Picture 2
Testate amoebae
Difflugia sp.; found at East Stoke Fen, Dorset
Picture 3
Difflugia sp.
Ciliates
Picture 1
Euplotes patella (O.F.M.) Ehrb. (zoochlorellae)
Picture 2
Stentor sp.; found at East Stoke
Picture 3
Loxodes rostrum (zoochlorellae)
Turbellarians
Picture 1
Picture 2
Turbellar
Catenula lemnae Duges
Picture 3
Catenula lemnae Duges
Rotifers
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Lophocharis salpina (Ehrenberg, 1834); monogonont rotifer found at Higher Hyde Heath,
Dorset in August
Polyarthra dolichoptera (Idelson, 1925); monogonont rotifer found at Higher Hyde Heath,
Dorset in August
Philodina sp.; bdelloid rotifer found in a water puddle
Gastrotrichs
Picture 1
Chaetonotus sp.; found at East Stoke Fen, Dorset
Picture 2
Chaetonotus sp.; found at East Stoke Fen, Dorset
Picture 3
Chaetonotus sp.; found at East Stoke Fen, Dorset
Nematodes
Picture 1
Tobrilus sp.; found at Higher Hyde Heath, Dorset in August
Picture 2
Nematode
Picture 3
Tobrilus sp.; found at Higher Hyde Heath, Dorset in August
Oligochaetes
Picture 1
Nais sp.; Higher Hyde
Picture 2
Chaetogaster diastrophus
Picture 3
Chaetogaster diastrophus
Mites
Picture 1
Aquatic mite
Picture 2
Aquatic mite
Picture 3
Aquatic mite
Tardigrades
Picture 1
Tardigrade ; found in water puddle in August
Picture 2
Tardigrade ; found in water puddle in August
Picture 3
Tardigrade ; found in water puddle in August
Microcrustacea - Cladocerans
Picture 1
Disparalona rostrata conf.; East Stoke Fen
Picture 2
Daphnia longispina conf.; Higher Hyde
Picture 3
MicrocrustaceaCopepods
Pseudochydorus globosus conf.; East Stoke
3
Picture 1
Cyclops sp., Higher Hyde
Picture 2
Cyclops sp., Higher Hyde
Picture 3
Microcrustacea Ostracods
Cyclops sp., Higher Hyde
Picture 1
Ostracod; found at Higher Hyde Heath, Dorset in August
Picture 2
Ostracod ; found at Higher Hyde Heath, Dorset in August
Picture 3
Ostracod ; found at Higher Hyde Heath, Dorset in August
Insect larvae
Picture 1
Chironomid larvae
Picture 2
Plecopteran larvae; head and thorax; East Stoke
Picture 3
Plecopteran larvae, head; East Stoke
4