(Beddard, 1893)
Description
Medium-sized earthworm-like oligochaetes. Colour reddish when alive. Chaetae two per bundle, sigmoid, simple-pointed. Clitellum covering XIII-XIX. Single pair of prostatic pores in XVII, male pores in 17/18. Penial chaetae of two sizes in bundle, with knob-like tip. Female pores in XIV closely paired. Length 17-70 mm, body diameter about 2 mm, segment number about 90. Differing from the other species known from the same environment, Dichogaster bolaui, in presence of one single pairs of prostate pores, as well as in paired female pore.
Burrowing in soil and sediment.
Distribution
Known from many tropical countries and from a greenhouse in England; found recently also in sewer pipes in Sweden.
Ecology
In soil, also in urban sewer systems.
Reproduction
Sexual only. Eggs laid in cocoons.
Literature
Beddard, 1893: 683, Pl. XLVI Figs 8, 13; Sims and Gerard, 1985: 144; Erséus et al., 1994: 18.