(Hatai, 1898)
Description
Large smooth, whitish tubificids, without hair and pectinate chaetae. Ventral chaetae (occasionally also a few dorsal chaetae) of II simple-pointed, all others with shorter upper tooth. Anteriorly 3-6 chaetae per bundle, gradually less in posterior bundles; their length 37-160 µm. No ventral chaetae in XI. Clitellum in X-1/2 XIII, unpaired male pore (aperture of copulatory sac) in posterior portion of XI, unpaired common pore of spermathecae on the anterior edge of X, mid-ventral. Small, very abundant coelomocytes in body cavity. Length 15-70 mm, segment number 56-150.
Crawling sluggishly on the lower surface of fallen leaves etc., seldom burrowing anterior end into sediment.
Distribution
Sino-Indian Region, evidently introduced to North Italy.
Ecology
In organically polluted or slightly brackish freshwater.
Reproduction
Sexual only. Eggs laid in elongate cocoons encrusted with sediment particles and often attached to hard substratum.
Literature
Hatai, 1898: 103-111, Figs 1-5; Brinkhurst and Jamieson, 1971: 558, Fig. 8.34H; Erséus and Paoletti, 1986: 115-118.