Dicranophoridae (Rotifera) from the Alps

Abstract

Rotifera of the family Dicranophoridae Harring, 1913 were recorded from mountainous altitudes of the Austrian Alps. Here, their morphology, distribution and ecology is detailed. The description of Encentrum walterkostei Jersabek is amended by observations on living animals. Of 19 species encountered, all but four are new to the alpine region, nine species are first records for the biogeographic region 'Alps'. Four species are new to science and will be published elsewhere. The majority are cosmopolites or widely distributed taxa, but also species with a more limited range, possibly endemics, seem to exist. Most species can be characterized as being more commonly found in cold environments, some of them are known to be psammobiontic or psammophilic.