Abstract: Bdelloid rotifers are a group of microscopic invertebrates known for their obligate parthenogenesis and exceptional resistance to extreme environments. The capacity to maintain diapausing anhydrobiotic state as well as their microscopic dimensions contributed to an amazingly wide distribution of bdelloid rotifers. They can be found in both aquatic (mainly freshwater lakes, ponds and streams) and terrestrial (e. g. mosses, lichens, tree barks, soil and litters) habitats. However, the diversity and distributions of bdelloid rotifers are poorly studied in the world, especially in China. Leaf litter belongs to the litter layer in forest ecosystem, which is the main source of material and energy of soil ecosystem and plays an important role in quality maintenance and ecological function of soil. The existing studies on bdelloid rotifers are mainly restricted within few habitats such as water bodies, moss and soil. Rarely, bdelloids from the leaf litter environment are reported in the world.　　In order to better understand the species distribution and diversity of bdelloid rotifers in China, a survey of leaf litter habitats was conducted from 8 provinces of China. The sampling range included tropical, subtropical and temperate regions, with altitudes spanning from 3 m to 1500 m. Rotifers isolated from these samples were identified by both external morphology and anatomy using the keys of Donner (1965) and the original descriptions or redescriptions of specific species. All living specimens were recorded and photographed for species identification and measurement. In addition, we used HotSHOT technique to extracted DNA for amplifying partial COⅠ sequence of the new record B. clauda and downloaded some already published COⅠ sequences from GenBank including B. clauda from UK. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by using NJ method.　　In total, 29 morphospecies were identified in this study, representing 6.1% of the global bdelloid rotifers species diversity, and belonged to 8 genera and 3 families, including 4 new Chinese record species (Bradyscela clauda Bryce, 1893, Macrotrachela aculeata Milne, 1886, Philodina scabra Milne, 1916 and Scepanotrocha corniculate Bryce, 1910) and 1 new Chinese record genus (Bradyscela). Bdelloid rotifers species numbers increased from 88 to 92 in China. 2 species (M. aculeata and S. corniculate) were first reported in Asia and 4 new records were described. The results indicate the abundant existence of bdelloid rotifer species in the leaf litter habitats, which will require considerably greater efforts to survey the microscopic species in China. The genetic position of the species B. clauda in molecular phylogenetic tree was determined by comparing the COⅠ gene sequence, which is consistent with morphological taxonomy. The integration of morphological taxonomy and DNA taxonomy provided a strong support for the accurate description of new records B. clauda.　　This study provided new bdelloid data from China for enriching the knowledge of rotifer biodiversity and their global biogeography. In addition to conventional habitats such as moss and soil, our findings indicate that more attentions should be paid to habitats like leaf litter. Thus, further researches targeted to the bdelloid rotifers of China through integration of morphological and molecular biological approaches would identify considerably higher levels of diversity and increase the understanding of habitat preferences by bdelloid rotifers.