Alternate Cambrian Explosion - Rotifers

For a primer text on Rotifers, see here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotifer

Rotifers have taken on many varied forms in this alternate present day. Most kinds existing today have a single eye with multiple pupils, but primitive kinds may have more than one midline eye. 


The most primitive modern Rotifers are small aquatic forms, like this:

Related species became ambush predators that sit anchored in one spot for stability:

These forms even gave rise to kinds that became completely sessile, like an anemone:

Other kinds of aquatic and marine Rotifer became more active, with a large fluke like tail:

Related to these forms, are oversized filter feeders that ply the open oceans:

The kinds that arose on land were mainly restricted to the niche of ambush predators, both in the trees - 

and on land, hiding in this underbrush or making a short chase - 

One specialized group however, became active, hopping pursuit predators:

Some sluggish aquatic forms colonized the land also, and became sessile convergently to their marine relatives:

Whilst some terrestrial forms took to the trees and became odd, inchworm-like predators -

Generally the Rotifers have had to actively compete with the Priapulids, which dominate many niches on land and in the ocean, their ability to adapt uniquely has allowed them to prosper, however.

All images, designs and writing on this blog are the property of Timothy Donald Morris, do not use, reproduce, or copy them without my permission.
© Timothy Donald Morris 2021

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