Krenedrilus sergei

Giani et al., 1990

Description
Small smooth worms. Dorsal bundles with 1-3 very long (700-1400 µm) hair chaetae, and 1-4 pectinates with 2-3 short intermediate teeth. Anterior ordinary ventral bundles with 4-6 crotchets, 65-75 µm long, 1-3 of them bifid, with longer upper tooth, and 2-5 simple. Posterior ventral chaetae by 2-3, bifid, with equal teeth. Genital chaetae of similar shape present both in X and XI, at spermathecal and male pores, 220-250 and 130-150 µm long, respectively. They are sharp-tipped and bent, with furrow in longer distal portion. Additionally, in XI less modified penial chaetae, bifid but straighter than ordinary chaetae, 65-70 µm long, with tips close to each other. All chaetae equipped with large glandular sacs. Single epidermal papilla present ventrally in X, between spermathecal pores. Small species, exact length and segment number unknown, but body diameter up to 0.25 mm. Genital chaetae, similar both at spermathecal and male pores, are known also in other species of the genus Krenedrilus (not yet known from NWE), in the genus Haber, and occasionally in Potamothrix bedoti. Krenedrilus sergei differs from them primarily in the giant dimensions of genital chaetae in comparison with its tiny body.
Burrowing in sediment.

Distribution
Aveyron, France.

Ecology
In freshwater, so far known only from a cave stream.

Reproduction
Sexual only. Eggs laid in cocoons.

Literature
Giani et al., 1990: 60-63, Figs 4-5.

%LABEL% (%SOURCE%)