Cephalodella acidophila n. sp. (Monogononta: Notommatidae), a new rotifer species from highly acidic mining lakes

We describe a new species of Cephalodella, C. acidophila n. sp., from the plankton of two extremely acidic mining lakes (pH Cephalodella delicata Wulfert. It shares with the latter an almost identical trophi morphology and anatomical organization, but differs clearly by form and length of its toes, larger body size, and ecology. Laboratory experiments revealed that the species is acidophilic, i.e. it thrives at low pH (Chlamydomonas acidophila. The easily cultured species has previously been used in various experimental studies, but has only now been recognized as an undescribed species.