Philodina, Living

For a class of 30 students. One of the first animals observed by Leeuwenhöek in 1703. Called wheel animals because of their conspicuous "corona," a region of dense cilia at the anterior end that creates a vortex, pulling food particles into the mouth. Also known for their leech-like manner of locomotion. Reproduction is exclusively by parthenogenesis; males are unknown in most species. Very hardy; will survive up to 2 weeks in shipping container.