Beddard, 1888a
Type species Dichogaster damonis Beddard, 1888a
Number of species large. In freshwater of NWE, two known species:
Dichogaster bolaui (Michaelsen, 1891)
Dichogaster saliens (Beddard, 1893)
Description
Similar to the lumbricid earthworms in having simple paired chaetae but differing from them in the position of clitellum and genital pores. These exotic, tropical earthworms are basically terrestrial and can not usually survive in open land in Europe when introduced. However, in recent decades populations of two octochaetid species have established themselves in sewer systems of several North European towns (Terhivuo, 1991: 61-65; Erséus et al., 1994: 17-20.
Burrowing in soil and sediment.
Distribution
Circumtropical, with occasional introductions to temperate regions.
Ecology
In soil.
Reproduction
Sexual only. Eggs laid in cocoons.
Literature
Beddard, 1888a: 251; Sims and Gerard, 1985: 142-144; Terhivuo, 1991: 61-65; Erséus et al., 1994: 17-20.