Aiyer, 1926
Description
Small worms. Prostomium only slightly broader than subsequent segments. Ciliated field restricted to ventral side. Sensory pits ventrolateral, round, separated from ciliated field. Cutaneous glands colourless, scarce, or lacking. Chaetae of two types present. Hair chaetae 0-5 per bundle, 50-100 µm long, slightly curved, and very finely plumose on concave side of their middle portion. Sigmoid chaetae 0-4 per bundle, 30-45 µm long, with 5-10 distinct paired denticles on concave side of their distal end. Anteriormost bundles can consist of only hair chaetae, and posterior bundles of only sigmoid chaetae. Length of a chain of 4 zooids 1.0-2.5 mm, width 0.06-0.15 mm. The first zooid 0.6-1 mm long, consisting of 7-8 segments. Differing from another colourless species with hair and sigmoid chaetae, Aeolosoma beddardi, as well as from all other congeners in the peculiar shape of sigmoid chaetae.
Gliding on substratum.
Distribution
Almost cosmopolitan.
Ecology
In freshwater. Building tubes.
Reproduction
Asexual reproduction by paratomy (budding) prevailing. Maturing seldom.
Literature
Aiyer, 1926: 136-138, Figs 11, 12, 15; Marcus, 1944: 24-25, Figs 11, 12, 15, 75; Bunke, 1967: 255-260, Figs 27-28; Van der Land, 1971: 685, Fig. 13.1E; Chekanovskaya, 1981: 183-185, Fig. 73; Kasprzak, 1981: 82, Figs 133-139.