A weighted taxonomic matrix key for species of the rotifer genus (Rotifera, Monogononta, Synchaetidae).

A new, weighted matrix identification key for 34 largely undisputed species of was created with the aim of providing comparable, detailed and diagnostic character sets for each species that can be applied to live and/or preserved specimens. As part of this process, 14 species of were intensively re-investigated with respect to their habitus and trophi morphology using binocular, light, and scanning electron microscopy, which, together with behavioural observations, revealed several new discriminating characters. Whenever possible, missing information for any character was added for the remaining species from the literature, with the two recently described species and being considered for the first time in an identification key.