Michaelsen, 1926b
Description
Small transparent worms. Body cylindrical but prostomium flat. External segmentation distinct. Both orange (reddish) and colourless cutaneous glands present. Dorsal chaetae 5-12 per bundle, arranged in two rows (or in an elliptical row) in each bundle; ventral chaetae by 3-9, somewhat shorter. Stiff hair chaetae only, 40-100 µm long, slightly bent, with distal end finely serrated on its concave side. Length of the first zooid 0.91-1.31 mm, length of a chain of two zooids 1.05-1.12 mm, segment number in the first zooid 10-11, in solitary individuals 12-16. Differing externally from the other aeolosomatids in the large number of chaetae and in their peculiar two-row arrangement in dorsal bundles.
Crawling on substratum.
Distribution
Europe.
Ecology
In freshwater, as commensal in gill chamber and on body surface of crayfish.
Reproduction
Asexual reproduction by paratomy (budding) prevailing. Maturing not known.
Literature
Michaelsen, 1926b: 93-97, Figs A-B; Van der Land, 1971: 691-692, Fig. 13.3D; Pop, 1975: 75-78, Fig. 1; Chekanovskaya, 1981: 189-190, Fig. 76; Kasprzak, 1976: 161-169, Figs 1-5, photos; Kasprzak, 1981: 84-85, Figs 147-157.