Family CAPILLOVENTRIDAE Harman & Loden, 1984

Museums

Regional Maps

• Capilloventridae Harman, W.J. & Loden, M.S. 1984. Capilloventer atlanticus gen. et sp. nov., a member of a new family of marine Oligochaeta from Brazil. Hydrobiologia 115: 51-54 [51].

  Type genus:

   Capilloventer Harman & Loden, 1984.

Introduction

The Capilloventridae (and only genus Capilloventer) were established by Harman & Loden (1984) for the marine Capilloventer atlanticus. Another two species, one marine from the Antarctic and one freshwater from eastern Australia were described by Erséus (1993). The latter species, C. australis, and two more eastern Australian species described by Pinder & Brinkhurst (1997) are the only species known from fresh water. Limnic species inhabit streams, rivers and (for C. australis) upper reaches of estuaries, usually with sandy sediments. Little is known of their biology and ecology, except that they repoduce sexually. Their phylogenetic position is uncertain, the original placement in the Enchytraeina being based on the anterior position of the spermathecae, though sperm morphology seems to confirm a basal position within the oligochaeta near the Enchytraeidae. The segment without gonads between the testis and ovary-bearing segments is also found in other families allied to enchytraeids (Propappidae and Randiellidae) but not in enchytraeids and other microdrile worms.

Diagnosis

Small freshwater, estuarine or marine worms. Dorsal and ventral setae similar, one to several per bundle, usually hairs and/or bifid or simple-pointed sigmoid crotchet setae. Setae absent from II and sometimes III. Chaetal bundles of a side located close together and widely separated from those of the other side. Ventral setae of XII modified into long broad hair-like penial setae. Pharyngeal pad dorsal and retractable, but simple and not well set off from oesophagus. Pharyngeal glands poorly developed (in segment III only?). Usually with a ventral organ opening into the buccal cavity or a salivary gland associated with the pharynx or oesophagus (homology of these structures not determined). Single pair of testes in XI. Single pair of ovaries in XIII (position to be confirmed for most species). Male ducts paired, unmodified, opening into simple copulatory chambers or directly to the exterior in XII. Female pores in XIII (or XIV?, not determined for most species). Spermathecae paired in VII with lateral pores in intersegmental furrow 6/7.

General References

Erséus, C. 1993. Taxonomy of Capilloventer (Capilloventridae), a little-known group of aquatic Oligochaeta, with descriptions of two new species. Journal of Natural History 27: 1029-1040

Harman, W.J. & Loden, M.S. 1984. Capilloventer atlanticus gen. et sp. nov., a member of a new family of marine Oligochaeta from Brazil. Hydrobiologia 115: 51-54

Pinder, A.M. & Brinkhurst, R.O. 1997. The family Capilloventridae (Annelida, Clitellata) in Australia with descriptions of two new species of Capilloventer. Zoologica Scripta 26: 255-265

History of changes