(Michaelsen, 1933)
Description
Large whitish grey (when alive) worms. Prostomium small and flat but bearing thin proboscis. Chaetae two per bundle, sigmoid, simple-pointed, with nodulus. Both spermathecal and male pores behind ventral chaetae in IX; female pores in anterior portion of XI. One pair of double copulatory glands open between ventral chaetae and spermathecal pores in IX. Clitellum poorly developed. No connection between spermathecae and oesophagus; no rudimentary atria. Two pairs of testes in VIII and IX, with two pairs of male funnels and vasa deferentia, correspondingly. Pear-shaped atria in IX covered with high prostatic cells, without penes. Length 50-65 mm, segment number 115-145. Similar to species of Rhynchelmis but differing from them in the poor development of clitellum, and concentration of different genital pores in IX.
Burrowing in sediment. Able to swim short distance when irritated.
Distribution
Germany.
Ecology
In freshwater, known from caves.
Reproduction
Sexual only. Eggs laid in cocoons.
Literature
Michaelsen, 1933: 7-15, Fig. 1-2; Hrabe, 1936a: 10; Cook, 1971a: 237-238, Fig. 5.2E; Kasprzak, 1981: 198, Fig. 746.