Euchlanis

Euchlanis is a genus of rotifers belonging to the family Euchlanidae.

Sometimes alternatively referred to as wheel animalcules, rotifers feature a characteristic circular arrangement of cilia at their front ends that is reminiscent of a turning wheel when they are in motion. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution.

Description
Rotifers have a characteristic circular arrangement of cilia at their front ends. These cilia are used to bring food particles, including bacteria, debris and small protozoans, towards the mouth. A mastax, a jaw-like structure, grinds the food as it enters the stomach. Excretory structures known as flame cells create a current that drains them into the intestines or the bladder. They have transparent bodies and two strong structures that are used for swimming. They are sheathed in a glassy shell secreted by their outer skin.

Species
The following species are accepted:
 * Euchlanis alata Voronkov, 1912
 * Euchlanis arenosa Myers, 1936
 * Euchlanis callimorpha Berzinš, 1957
 * Euchlanis callysta Myers, 1930
 * Euchlanis calpidia (Myers, 1930)
 * Euchlanis contorta (Wulfert, 1939)
 * Euchlanis dactyliseta Sudzuki, 1998
 * Euchlanis dapidula Parise, 1966
 * Euchlanis deflexa Gosse, 1851
 * Euchlanis dilatata Ehrenberg, 1832
 * Euchlanis hyphidactyla Parise, 1963
 * Euchlanis incisa Carlin, 1939
 * Euchlanis ligulata Kutikova & Vassiljeva, 1982
 * Euchlanis lucksiana Hauer
 * Euchlanis lyra Hudson, 1886
 * Euchlanis mamorokaensis Berzinš, 1973
 * Euchlanis meneta Myers, 1930
 * Euchlanis mikropous Koch-Althaus, 1962
 * Euchlanis oropha Gosse, 1887
 * Euchlanis parameneta Berzinš, 1957
 * Euchlanis perpusilla De Ridder, 1977
 * Euchlanis phryne Myers, 1930
 * Euchlanis pyriformis Gosse, 1851
 * Euchlanis semicarinata Segers, 1993
 * Euchlanis triquetra Ehrenberg, 1838