How do rotifers draw food and water into their mouth?

How do rotifers draw food and water into their mouth?

• A. Beating cilia
• B. Suction using a muscular pharynx
• C. Filtering with gills
• D. Absorption through the skin

Answer: (A)

Rotifers use a crown of cilia around the mouth that beats in a coordinated way to create a current of water and suspended particles toward the opening. This beating pulls in food items such as bacteria and algae along with surrounding water, directing them into the mouth and into the pharynx for processing. They don’t rely on gills or skin absorption for feeding; those mechanisms aren’t how they take in material. The ciliary feeding current is the primary means by which rotifers draw food and water into their mouth.

Rotifers use a crown of cilia around the mouth that beats in a coordinated way to create a current of water and suspended particles toward the opening. This beating pulls in food items such as bacteria and algae along with surrounding water, directing them into the mouth and into the pharynx for processing. They don’t rely on gills or skin absorption for feeding; those mechanisms aren’t how they take in material. The ciliary feeding current is the primary means by which rotifers draw food and water into their mouth.