Schmarda, 1861
Type species Aulophorus discocephalus Schmarda, 1861
Number of species 24. In NWE, one species:
Aulophorus furcatus (Müller, 1774)
Description
Naidids with caudal branchial disc equipped, besides contractile gills, with a pair of non-contractile palps. No eyes. Dorsal bundles, with hair and needle chaetae, beginning from IV, V or VI. In male individuals, male pores in VI. No genital chaetae. Sometimes treated as a subgenus of Dero.
Distribution
Cosmopolitan, but mostly in warmer regions.
Ecology
In freshwater. Tolerant of oxygen deficiency and pollution. Feeding on detritus. Building attached or portable cases.
Reproduction
Mostly asexual, by paratomy (budding). Mature individuals and sexual reproduction rare.
Literature
Sperber, 1948: 190; Brinkhurst and Jamieson, 1971: 374-375; Chekanovskaya, 1981: 217; Hrabe, 1981: 58; Kasprzak, 1981: 110.