Bretscher, 1896
Description
Small transparent worms. Prostomium prolonged. No eyes. Forebody pigmented. Chaetae bifid, dorsal ones in II-V slightly longer and thinner than the rest, with longer upper tooth, 5-6 per bundle; the other chaetae with equal teeth, 3-5 per bundle. Transverse vessels in I-V forming a capillary network. Reproductive organs not known. Length up to 8 mm, segment number in single individuals up to 20. Poorly known species, can be easily confused with some very young tubificids.
Distribution
Holarctic(?).
Ecology
In freshwater.
Reproduction
Paratomy (budding). Sexually mature individuals not known.
Literature
Bretscher, 1896: 508-509; Sperber, 1948: 92-93; Sperber, 1950: 57; Brinkhurst and Jamieson, 1971: 322-323; Chekanovskaya, 1981: 248; Hrabe, 1981: 36; Kasprzak, 1981: 132.