Eisenia spelaea

(Rosa, 1901)

Description
Medium-sized earthworms, with closely paired chaetae. Body either unpigmented, or forebody with darker transversal stripes. Clitellum from XXIV...XXVII to XXXII...XXXIV. Tubercula pubertatis as ridges from XXVII...XXIX to XXXI or XXXII. Length 70-110 mm, body diameter 5-7 mm, segment number 84-120. Externally differing from the congeners, and from the other semiaquatic lumbricids, in the position of clitellum and tubercula pubertatis.
Burrowing in soil and sediment.

Distribution
Southern Europe.

Ecology
In freshwater and wet soil, including caves.

Reproduction
Sexual only. Eggs laid in cocoons.

Literature
Rosa, 1901: 36-39; Plisko, 1973: 63-64, Fig. 48; Perel', 1979: 219.

%LABEL% (%SOURCE%)