Carotenoid Pigments in Rotifera

Abstract

THE Rotifera are remarkable among the Metazoa for their small size, often smaller than the largest ciliated Protozoa. Many rotifers are colourless or at most show some slight colour in the gut wall, clearly due to pigment taken in with food. A few species may have pigment spread throughout the body, others may have red eyespots and the fat globules of resting eggs may be bright orange in colour. This combination of small size and general lack of colour makes investigation of the pigments of this group difficult and so far as we are aware no rotifer pigments have previously been identified.