A review of the Tubificidae (Annelida: Oligochaeta) from Australian inland waters
Memoirs of Museum Victoria Vol 58 (1) p. 39–75 (2000)
Abstract
The Australian limnic representatives of the cosmopolitan oligochaete family Tubificidae are reviewed. The four Australian species of TelmatodrilusEisen, 1879 are placed in new genera (Breviatria and Biprostatus) and these are considered to belong to Rhyacodrilinae rather than Telmatodrilinae. Four new species, Rhyacodrilus megaprostatus, Ainudrilus nharna, Breviatria arvensis and Biprostatus duplex are described and Rhyacodrilus fultoni Brinkhurst, 1982 is transferred to Ainudrilus Finogenova, 1982. Limnodrilus claparedeianus Ratzel, 1868 and Aulodrilus limnobius Bretscher, 1899 are recorded in Australia for the first time. The Australian fauna now consists of 29 described species, including 11 of the most widespread species of cosmopolitan genera (Tubifex Lamark, 1816, Potamothrix Vejdovský and Mrazek, 1902, Limnodrilus Claparède, 1862, Aulodrilus Bretscher, 1899, Rhyacodrilus Bretscher, 1901, Bothrioneurum Stolc, 1886 and Branchiura Beddard, 1892). Antipodrilus Brinkhurst, 1971, with five species, and the two new rhyacodriline genera, with six species, are essentially Australian genera, except that one species of Antipodrilus and possibly one of Biprostatus also occur in New Zealand. Seven endemic species belong to more widespread genera (Rhizodrilus Smith, 1900, Rhyacodrilus and Ainudrilus). The Australian tubificid fauna appears to have biogeographic affinities with northern hemisphere and marine tubificids.
Citation
Pinder, A.M. & Brinkhurst, R.O., 2000. A review of the Tubificidae (Annelida: Oligochaeta) from Australian inland waters. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 58: 39-75. http://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.2000.58.3
PUBLICATION DATE: 30 JUNE 2000