Homochaeta setosa

(Moszynski, 1933)

Description
Small transparent worms. No eyes. All chaetae bifid, with shorter upper tooth, 4-8 per bundle in II-III, up to 12 in other segments. Penial chaetae in VI of mature worms resembling ordinary chaetae but 5 per bundle; clitellum in V-1/2 VIII. Length 6-10 mm, segment number 42-54. Poorly known species, can be confused with the tubificid Aulodrilus limnobius.

Distribution
Europe.

Ecology
In freshwater. Allegedly building cases from sand and respirating with unsegmented tubular hind end (Hrabe, 1973); both statements may lie on a confusion with the tubificid Aulodrilus limnobius.

Reproduction
Probably mostly asexual, by paratomy (budding). Mature individuals and sexual reproduction rare or seasonal.

Literature
Moszynski, 1933: 141-143, Fig. 1; Sperber, 1948: 93, Fig.; Hrabe, 1973: 42-43, Figs 1-3; Hrabe, 1981: 36-37, Pl. 3 Figs 7-8; Kasprzak, 1981: 132-133, Fig. 396.

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