Svetlov, 1925
Description
Small and stout, transparent worm, sometimes occurring as a chain of several zooids. Five anterior segments fused forming head and containing muscular pharynx. Prostomium absent. Chaetae in ventral bundles only, absent from III-V, simple-pointed or with vestigial lower tooth, up to 10 per bundle. Length about 0.7 mm, segment number known as 13. Differing from other congeners in having simple-pointed chaetae, long and prominent in comparison with small body.
Crawling on substratum, sometimes floating in plankton.
Distribution
Holarctic.
Ecology
In freshwater, known mostly from cleaner water bodies.
Reproduction
Paratomy (budding). Sexually mature individuals rare.
Literature
Svetlov, 1925: 473-474, Pl. I Figs 1-2; Sperber, 1948: 71-72; 1950: 53; Brinkhurst and Jamieson, 1971: 312, Fig. 7.1Q-R; Chekanovskaya, 1981: 263-264, Fig. 124; Kasprzak, 1981: 95, Figs 196-198.