Bunke, 1967
Description
Small worms. Prostomium bluntly triangular, only slightly broader than the following segments. Edges of its ventral ciliated field extending to lateral fringes of dorsal side. Sensory pits ventrolateral, not visible from dorsal side, roundish, sometimes in with ciliated field. Cutaneous glands red, numerous, of different size. Chaetae of two kinds. Sigmoid chaetae 36-42 µm long, with 5-10 denticles on convex side of dorsal portion, 1-4 per bundle, in typical form present in posterior ventral bundles but also in some dorsal bundles. Typical hair chaetae 60-80 µm long, very finely plumose, 1-5 per bundle. Forms intermediate between hair chaetae and sigmoid chaetae, up to 80 µm long, as well as single short and straight needle chaetae, can occur. The total number of chaetae per bundle is usually 4-6, seldom up to 7. Length of a chain of 2-3 zooids, 1.2-2 mm, width 0.075-0.1 mm, segment number of the first zooid usually 8-9. Differing from Aeolosoma evelinae in the dentition of convex side of sigmoid chaetae, and from Aeolosoma japonicum, displaying similar sigmoid chaetae, in shorter chaetae and in different colour of cutaneous glands.
Gliding on substratum.
Distribution
Europe.
Ecology
In freshwater, particularly on sand.
Reproduction
Asexual reproduction by paratomy (budding) prevailing. Maturing seldom.
Literature
Bunke, 1967: 208-213, 282-297, Figs 6, 8, 36-49; Van der Land, 1971: 682, Fig. 13.1C; Kasprzak, 1981: 74-75, Figs 94-97.