Gastrotrichs in bromeliads – newly recorded Chaetonotus (Hystricochaetonotus) furcatus Kisielewski, 1991 (Chaetonotida) from the Łódź Palm House

Chaetonotus (Hystricochaetonotus) furcatus Kisielewski, 1991 was found during a study of fauna in water micro-reservoirs with bromeliads exhibited at the Łódź Palm House (Poland). This freshwater gastrotrich species was previously known only from the locus typicus in central Amazonia (Brazil). This observation constitutes the first finding of gastrotrichs in water microreservoirs formed in the axils of Bromeliaceae in artificial habitats such as greenhouses. It also raises the number of freshwater gastrotrichs found in palm houses to 19, and the number of nominal species known from Poland to 100. Newly recorded species correspond to the original descriptions but differ in some characters. Taxonomic, morphometric and biogeographic remarks are provided for the species together with microphotographs and drawing figures.