The interstitial Rotifera of a tropical freshwater peat swamp on Phuket Island, Thailand

We studied the Rotifera inhabiting the psammon of a coastal freshwater peat swamp on Phuket Island, Thailand, in order to provide a first report on interstitial rotifers from tropical regions. The records total 19 species, three of which we describe as new to science. Four species are regional endemics, one is Oriental and two are widespread but very rare. Six taxa are new to Thailand. The results indicate a high endemicity rate, however, the scarcity of information on the distribution of tropical interstitial rotifers, illustrated by the description of one of the new species from Thailand and Bolivia, precludes generalisations at this time.