Rodriguez and Giani, 1986
Description
Small unpigmented worms. Prostomium without proboscis. External secondary annulation beginning from V. Chaetae two per bundle, sigmoid with nodulus, bluntly simple-pointed in II-IV, but bifid from V on. In II-IV, ventral chaetae considerably longer and thicker than dorsal ones (about 85 and 60 µm, respectively). Posterior chaetae of equal length in both dorsal and ventral bundles, becoming gradually smaller caudad (from 80 to 60). Male pores in IX, spermathecal pores in X, ventral; clitellum poorly developed. Pharyngeal glands extend to VII. No blind appendages on dorsal vessel. Testes in VIII and IX. Atria in IX pear-shaped, with thick muscular layer, with long duct, prostatic cells arranged in two diffuse masses. Spermathecae in X, with pyriform ampulla and discrete duct; spermathecal pores ventral, near 10/11. Differing from congeners in its bifid chaetae, and a forward shift of reproductive system by one segment. These characters are shared with Trichodrilus strandi, but this species is characterized by bifid chaetae in all segments, as well as minor differences in reproductive system.
Burrowing in sediment.
Distribution
Spain, France.
Ecology
In freshwater, rare.
Reproduction
Sexual only. Eggs laid in cocoons.
Literature
Rodriguez and Giani, 1986: 274-275, Fig.3; Rodriguez and Giani, 1987: 47-49, Fig. 4.