(Hrabe, 1962)
Description
Medium-sized smooth pink worms. In anterior dorsal bundles 2-5 smooth hair chaetae, 220-470 µm long, and 2-5 pectinates, with slightly longer upper tooth and with fine intermediate teeth. 1-2 hair and 2-4 bifid chaetae in dorsal bundles of midbody and only 1-2 bifid crotchets in tail region. Anterior ventral crotchets 3-6 per bundle, with slightly longer upper tooth; teeth become equal in both dorsal and ventral crotchets caudad. Penial chaetae in XI known by 8 in bundle, with simple slightly bent tip, 175 µm long, hidden in body wall. Clitellum in 1/2 IX-1/2 XIII. Spermathecae in X. Abundant globular coelomocytes in body cavity. Length known as 14 mm, segment number 86. Differing most clearly from the other Rhyacodrilinae with dorsal hair and pectinate chaetae, in the unique anatomy of its male duct: narrow vasa deferentia gradually dilate into long tubular atria covered with prostatic tissue; both penes and bundles of penial chaetae present in penial sacs.
Burrowing in sediment.
Distribution
Europe.
Ecology
In freshwater, in mountain streams, rare.
Reproduction
Sexual only. Eggs laid in cocoons.
Literature
Hrabe, 1962: 335-346, Figs 1-13; Brinkhurst and Jamieson, 1971: 560-561, Fig. 8.34C-G; Kasprzak, 1981: 147, Figs 478-483.