Healy, 1975
Description
Small worms. Chaetae by 4-10, most numerous in ventral bundles, sigmoid, simple-pointed, with ectal nodulus, lacking ventrally in XII. Male pores in XII; clitellum in XII-1/2 XIII. Interior characters: Pharyngeal glands in two pairs; dorsal lobes at 4/5 and 5/6 connected with each other, ventral lobes in V and VI. Coelomocytes broadly spindle-shaped with sharp thin ends, finely granular or clear. Chloragogen tissue covering oesophagus beginning from VI. No appendages on digestive tube. Blood red but sometimes colourless; dorsal blood vessel reaching backward XIII. Spermathecae not connected with oesophagus, consisting of small spherical ampulla and very long narrow duct, usually reaching X, with inflated ectal end; no glands at spermathecal pores in 4/5. Male funnels short, cylindrical, with narrow collar. Vas deferens short, with very slight dilatation in ectal end. No glands at male pore. 1-3 eggs in clitellar region. Length 2.5-7 mm, segment number 27-31. Can be distinguished from congeners only on the basis of internal anatomy.
Burrowing in sediment.
Distribution
Ireland.
Ecology
In freshwater wetlands.
Reproduction
Sexual, with eggs laid in cocoons.
Literature
Healy, 1975: 316, Fig. 1; Kasprzak, 1986: 105, Figs 225, 232-236.