Stephanoceros

(2020) - 23 min

sciencedocumentaryanimalschildrennatureeducational

A magnificent example of the giant rotifer, Stephanoceros. Consisting of about 1000 cells, this freshwater animal is sessile, encased in a gelatinous holdfast, reliant on five feathery tentacles to capture small prey. Other rotifers can swim or inch along a substrate. Not the Stephanoceros. A clutch of eggs gestate inside the animal's body cavity, some with red eyespots already visible. Microscopic footage courtesy of Tom Jones.