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Specific and Generic Criteria in Marine Oligochaeta, with Special Emphasis on Tubificidae

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Aquatic Oligochaete Biology

Abstract

The enchytraeids Marionina and Lumbricillus, each containing many marine, littoral species, are in great need of revision; their generic and specific characteristics require reconsideration. The taxonomic problems due to morphological differentiation between geographically separated populations of the exclusively marine genus Grania are elucidated.

The supra-specific classification of the Tubificidae is, by tradition,based upon the principal organization of the male duct and its accessories, besides the presence or absence of coelomocytes, gut diverticulae and spermatozeugmata. Specific criteria vary slightly between tubificid genera. Generally, somatic characters provide little or no species-distinguishing information. Much more fundamental are the sexual characters: proportions in the male genitalia; number and appearance of the genital setae (when present); and morphology of the spermathecae. The importance of using histological techniques when studying the morphology of male genital organs is emphasized.

A thorough taxonomic analysis of the sub-family Phallodrilinae has provided evidence of radiative evolution among marine Tubificidae. Striking morphological modifications, such as enlarged somatic and genital setae, absence of alimentary canal and flattened body shape, are noted for some aberrant phallodriline species.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Gothenburg, Fack S-400 33, Göteborg, Sweden

    Christer Erséus

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  1. Christer Erséus
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ocean Sciences, Sidney, British Columbia, Canada

    Ralph O. Brinkhurst

  2. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    David G. Cook

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© 1980 Plenum Press, New York

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Erséus, C. (1980). Specific and Generic Criteria in Marine Oligochaeta, with Special Emphasis on Tubificidae. In: Brinkhurst, R.O., Cook, D.G. (eds) Aquatic Oligochaete Biology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3048-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3048-6_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3050-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3048-6

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