Vejdovsky, 1884a
Type genus Nais Müller, 1774, as for the Family Naididae. Nominate tribe of the subfamily Naidinae. In fact, the group was established by Vejdovsky, 1884a as the family Naidomorpha excluding the Chaetogastridae. Treated as a subfamily by Lastockin, 1921, and redescribed so by Sperber, 1948; treated as a tribe by Nemec and Brinkhurst, 1987, including genera Nais, Uncinais, Ophidonais, Specaria and possibly Neonais.
Number of species about 40. In fresh waters of NWE, four genera with 15 species:
Nais alpina Sperber, 1948
Nais barbata Müller, 1774
Nais behningi Michaelsen, 1923
Nais bretscheri Michaelsen, 1899
Nais christinae Kasprzak, 1973
Nais communis Piguet, 1906a
Nais elinguis Müller, 1774
Nais pardalis Piguet, 1906a
Nais pseudobtusa Piguet, 1906a
Nais simplex Piguet, 1906a
Nais stolci Hrabe, 1981
Nais variabilis Piguet, 1906a
Ophidonais serpentina (Müller, 1774)
Specaria josinae (Vejdovsky, 1884a)
Uncinais uncinata (Orsted, 1842)
Description
A clade of Naidinae, characterized by presence of prostate tissue on vas deferens. No proboscis. Eyes, dorsal hair and needle chaetae often present. In mature individuals, male pores in VI, usually accompanied by penial chaetae.
Distribution
Cosmopolitan.
Ecology
In fresh and brackish water. Feeding on detritus and unicellular algae.
Reproduction
Mostly asexual, by paratomy (budding). Five anterior segments developing in the budding zone. Maturing and sexual reproduction rare or seasonal.
Literature
Vejdovsky, 1884a: 22-25; Lastockin, 1921: 75; Sperber, 1948: 92; Nemec and Brinkhurst, 1987: 706.