# @science on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DNGjxaHigx1
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/33641036-science-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/9ac430caa4.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-08-08T17:33:14.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Science 🧬 (@science) — https://gondola.cc/science

## Caption

🧫 Rotifers and this particular species were named Stephanoceros fimbriatus.  In Greek, Stephano means crown, and Ceros means horn, which makes total sense when looking at this microscopic monster.⁠
⁠
Rotifers are also referred to as ‘’Wheel Animals’’ because of the rotating cilia, called a corona, they have on their heads! They usually use these cilia to create a water current that attracts food particles like bacteria, algae, ciliates, and other microorganisms to the mouth. Although this species is a bit different from the other rotifers.⁠
⁠
Instead of having some rotating wheels on their heads, they have five long tentacles with moving cilia that redirect prey toward the mouth! These rotifers are ambush predators waiting for prey to pass by. Preys then get trapped in small compartments before getting pumped by sphincter muscles and ultimately being swallowed.⁠
⁠
Most rotifers are planktonic and swim around, but Stephanoceros fimbriatus is sessile; its adult stage is immobile. When in their larval stage, they swim around until they find a nice spot to stay for the rest of their lives. I found this one stuck to a hydra, which is kind of odd since the hydra could easily have eaten the rotifer.⁠
⁠
Another cool fact about Stephanoceros is that they secrete a gelatinous tube in which they can retract and seek protection. This tube can be seen in the video; it’s transparent and covers almost all of the rotifer’s body, from the tip of its toe to the mouth!⁠
⁠
_____⁠
⁠
🎥 courtesy of: @tardibabe⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
#ginger #gingerroot #cells #microscopic #microscope #underamicroscope #science #biological #biology

## Stats

- **Views:** 47,672
- **Likes:** 1,303
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 8

## Tags

underamicroscope, gingerroot, cells, science, ginger, microscope, biological, microscopic, biology

---
Copyright (c) Gondola