Benham, 1892
Type species Sparganophilus tamesis Benham, 1892
Number of species 11. In NWE, one species:
Sparganophilus tamesis Benham, 1892
Description
Earthworm-like but relatively thin and soft-bodied, unpigmented oligochaetes. Anus dorsal. Chaetae two per bundle, sigmoid, simple-pointed. Digestive tube without stomach or appendages. Clitellum saddle-shaped or annular, with ridge-shaped tubercula pubertatis, covering also inconspicuous male pores in XIX. Testes in X and XI, ovaries in XIII. Externally differing from the other European freshwater earthworm-like oligochaetes, primarily in the position of male pores in XIX, on tubercula pubertatis.
Burrowing in soil and sediment.
Distribution
Nearctic, with one (introduced?) species in West Europe.
Ecology
In freshwater.
Reproduction
Sexual only. Eggs laid in cocoons.
Literature
Benham, 1892: 156; Jamieson, 1971: 811-812; Reynolds, 1977: 112-113.