Leydig, 1865
Description
Small worms. Prostomium somewhat triangular, slightly broader than in subsequent segments. Ciliated field restricted to ventral side. Sensory pits lateral, large, roundish. Cutaneous glands sparse, colourless or very slightly greenish, without satellite cell, sometimes lacking. Hair chaetae only, 1-3(4) per bundle, straight but with bayonet-shaped proximal portion, uniformly 50-80 µm long. A chain of 2-4 zooids up to 1.5 mm long, about 0.08 mm wide; the first zooid 0.5-0.8 mm long, consisting of 6-8 segments. Differing from another colourless species with only hair chaetae, Aeolosoma hyalinum, in smaller segment number and in uniformly long chaetae.
Gliding on substratum.
Distribution
Europe, Asia, North America, Pacific Islands.
Ecology
In freshwater.
Reproduction
Asexual reproduction by paratomy (budding) prevailing. Maturing seldom.
Literature
Leydig, 1865: 360-266, Table VIII, B; Bunke, 1967: 252-255, Fig. 26; Van der Land, 1971: 679-680; Chekanovskaya, 1981: 180; Kasprzak, 1981: 83-84, Figs 144-146.