Genus Embolocephalus

Randolph, 1892

Type species Saenuris velutina Grube, 1879
Number of species 15. In NWE, one species:
Embolocephalus velutinus (Grube, 1879)

Description
Medium-sized tubificids armoured with numerous small secretory papillae; light sensory papillae present but not prominent. Hair and pectinate chaetae present dorsally, bifid and simple-pointed crotchets ventrally; spermathecal chaetae in X. Differing from the other papillate genera of tubificids, besides the anatomy of reproductive system, also in absence of both prominent sensory papillae, as well as in absence of penial chaetae but presence of spermathecal chaetae.
Burrowing in sediment.

Distribution
Holarctic, China, Japan, Venezuela.

Ecology
In freshwater, one marine species.

Reproduction
Sexual only. Eggs laid in cocoons.

Literature
Randolph, 1892: 463; Holmquist, 1978: 205; Brinkhurst, 1981: 1057.

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