Hoffmeister, 1843
Type species Rhynchelmis limosella Hoffmeister, 1843
Number of species at least 19. Three species known from NWE:
Rhynchelmis limosella Hoffmeister, 1843
Rhynchelmis paraolchonensis Giani and Martinez-Ansemil, 1984
Rhynchelmis tetratheca Michaelsen, 1920
Description
Large or medium-sized worms. Prostomium with or without prostomium. External secondary annulation present. Chaetae two per bundle, sigmoid, with nodulus. Male pores in X. Spermathecal pores in VIII (single pore in some species), or in VIII and IX. Single or paired rudimentary atrium, with pore(s) in IX or X. One or two pairs of testes, in X or in IX-X. Long tubular atria in X, receiving vasa deferentia apically, covered with numerous multicellular prostate glands. Spermathecae often connected with digestive tract. Differing from the other lumbriculids in the structure of reproductive system; the commonest species are also characterized by presence of proboscis.
Burrowing in sediment. At least some species able to swim short distance when irritated.
Distribution
Holarctic, Lake Baikal, Japan.
Ecology
In freshwater.
Reproduction
Sexual only. Eggs laid in cocoons.
Literature
Hoffmeister, 1843: 186; Grube, 1844: 203; Hrabe, 1936a: 11; Cook, 1971a: 252-254; Chekanovskaya, 1981: 457; Hrabe, 1981: 113; Kasprzak, 1981: 189-190.