Genus Allolobophora

Eisen, 1873

Type species Allolobophora riparia Eisen, 1873
Number of species at least 55. In freshwater of NWE, one known species:
Allolobophora chlorotica (Savigny, 1826)

Description
Pigmented or unpigmented earthworms with paired chaetae. Male pores in XV with glandular pads. Differing from the other lumbricid genera in the combination of interior anatomical characters only. Several commonest earthworms, ascribed formerly to Allolobophora, were recently transferred to another genus, Aporrectodea.
Burrowing in soil and sediment.

Distribution
Palaearctic, with several introductions to other temperate regions.

Ecology
In soil, some species also in freshwater.

Reproduction
Sexual only. Eggs laid in cocoons.

Literature
Eisen, 1873: 46; Omodeo, 1956: 179-183; Plisko, 1973: 101-102; Reynolds, 1977: 35; Perel', 1979: 181-182; Chekanovskaya, 1981: 495; Sims and Gerard, 1985: 50.

%LABEL% (%SOURCE%)