Nurminen, 1964
Description
Small reddish worms. Chaetae in fan-like bundles, sigmoid, without nodulus, by 3-7 (most numerous on ventral side and on mid-body), about 40 µm long. Ventral chaetae lacking at male pores in XII. Clitellum covering 1/2 XI-XII. Clitellar glands arranged in transverse rows. Internal characters: Pharyngeal glands with dorsal lobes well connected with each other dorsally, in IV and V, and ventral lobes in IV-VI. Coelomocytes oval or pear-shaped, granular. No appendages on digestive tube. Blood reddish yellow, dorsal blood vessel reaches rearward up to 12/13. Spermathecae in V, connected with oesophagus, consisting of spindle-shaped ampulla and very short, indistinct duct, with a crown of glands surrounding its ectal end. Numerous lobes of sperm vesicles full of spermatozoa, attached to body wall at 10/11 and extending bush-like into cavity of IX-XI. Male funnels pear-shaped, consisting of five lobes, with narrower collar. Penial bulbs of medium size. 4-10 eggs present at a time. Length about 8 mm, segment number 28-33. Differing from congeners, first of all, in lobed male funnel.
Burrowing in sediment.
Distribution
Europe.
Ecology
In fresh and slightly brackish water, in wet soil.
Reproduction
Sexual, with eggs laid in cocoons.
Literature
Nurminen, 1964: 48-50, Fig. 2; Kasprzak, 1986: 140-141, Figs 389-392.