Bretscher, 1899
Type species Aulodrilus limnobius Bretscher, 1899
Number of species 11. Four species known from NWE:
Aulodrilus japonicus Yamaguchi, 1953
Aulodrilus limnobius Bretscher, 1899
Aulodrilus pigueti Kowalewski, 1914
Aulodrilus pluriseta (Piguet, 1906a)
Description
Small to medium-sized smooth pink tubificids. Hair chaetae present or lacking. Bifid chaetae with shorter upper tooth, sometimes modified, either with transversal wing-like dilatations, or oar-shaped. Genital chaetae can occur. Posterior end modified as unsegmented tube, devoid of chaetae, acting as gill. Asexual reproduction by architomy (fragmentation) common. In individuals maturing after regeneration of anterior end, reproductive apparatus shifted forwards, in comparison with usual position for tubificids, with male pores in VII. Differing from all other tubificid genera, besides the anatomy of reproductive system, also in the modification of the posterior end which functions as gill, in combination with the shorter upper tooth of crotchets, and prevailing asexual reproduction.
Burrowing in sediment.
Distribution
Cosmopolitan.
Ecology
In freshwater. Building stationary mud cases above sediment surface.
Reproduction
Asexual reproduction by architomy (fragmentation) prevailing. Maturing and sexual reproduction rare. Eggs laid in cocoons.
Literature
Bretscher, 1899: 388; Brinkhurst and Jamieson, 1971: 523-524; Chekanovskaya, 1981: 280-281; Hrabe, 1981: 68; Kasprzak, 1981: 178-179.