Biodiversity of Indian Rotifers (Rotifera) with remarks on biogeography and richness in diverse ecosystems

We assess biodiversity status of Rotifera known from India to-date based on our studies various regions this country and evaluation other viable records, highlight notable features biogeography richness. The Indian fauna reveals 434 valid species belonging to 68 genera 25 families thus indicates the most biodiverse vis-àvis south Southeast Asia, records ~25% ~41% global regional biogeographic interest. It depicts littoral-periphytic nature, broadly tropical character, limited reports cold-water sub-Himalayan Himalayan latitudes, paucity endemics Bdelloids, cryptic diversity awaits analyses. richest distinct identity Northeast (NEI) is attributed location region in ‘Himalayan Indo-Burmese’ hot-spots, ‘Assam gateway’ – corridor, ‘Rotiferologist effect’. Regional disparity spatial heterogeneity elsewhere are sampling, inadequate collections diverse ecosystems, unidentified species, attention smaller species. rotifer assemblages floodplain lakes including Deepor Beel Loktak Lake, two Ramsar sites globally megadiverse hypothesized habitat these ecotones, while ‘Rotifera paradox’ depict speciose constellations per sample. species-rich small urban wetlands focus interest water bodies. estimate more following analyses underexplored unexplored bdelloid sessile rotifers using integrative taxonomic approaches.