Family LUMBRICULIDAE Vejdovsky, 1884

Museums

Regional Maps

• Lumbriculidae Vejdovsky, F. 1884. System und Morphologie der Oligochaeten. Prague : Rivnac.

  Type genus:

   Lumbriculus Grube, 1844.

• Brinkhurst, R.O. 1971. Family Lumbriculidae. pp. 200-285 in Brinkhurst, R.O. & Jamieson, B.G.M. (eds). Aquatic Oligochaeta of the World. Edinburgh : Oliver & Boyd 860 pp. [200]
• Brinkhurst, R.O. 1989. A phylogenetic analysis of the Lumbriculidae (Annelida, Oligochaeta). Canadian Journal of Zoology 67: 2731-2739 [2731]

Introduction

This family of some 18 genera and about 170 described species is represented in Australia by only two species: Lumbriculus variegatus and Stylodrilus heringianus (Pinder 1994). It is very likely that both these species have been introduced in modern times. Lumbriculus variegatus is often readily identifiable in the field by its vigorous thrashing when handled and the greenish-brown anterior end and reddish posterior end, the latter due to the branched blood vessels in each posterior segment. Lumbriculus variegatus often reproduces asexually by fragmentation and when it does reproduce sexually has a variable numer of genital organs. This species is commonly found in disturbed habitats and is particularly common near urban centres or in catchments associated with major cities and towns of eastern and southern Australia. Lumbriculus variegatus is often sold in Australia as live fish food, often under the name 'black-worms'. Stylodrilus heringianus, with its pair of permanently exposed penes on mature specimens, is distinctive but less common. This species has been found in Victoria and Tasmania to date. The systematics of this family was last reviewed by (Brinkhurst 1989).

Diagnosis

Prostomium prolobic or zygolobic, sometimes elongate, produced into proboscis. Sigmoid crotchet chaetae in four bundles per segment, beginning in II, two dorso-lateral bundles and two ventro-lateral bundles; two setae per bundle and single pointed (but not in Australian specimens) or bifid, with distinct node; setae rarely totally or partially absent. Without hair setae or modified genital setae. Male and spermathecal pores in region of VII to XV. Clitellum in region of genital pores, one cell thick. Blind posterior lateral blood vessels often present. Testes variable in number and position. Atria paired or unpaired, always in a testis-bearing segment, atria in at least one segment associated with testes in same segment (prosoporous) and sometimes with testes in preceeding segment (plesioporous). Posterior-most vasa deferentia may penetrate posterior septum before returning to the same (atrial) segment. Genitalia often serially repeated. Spermathecae variable in number and position. Sperm sacs present, extend for many segments posterior to testes. Ovaries one or two pairs, situated one or rarely two segments behind most posterior testes-bearing segment. Spermathecae variable in number and position.

General References

Brinkhurst, R.O. 1989. A phylogenetic analysis of the Lumbriculidae (Annelida, Oligochaeta). Canadian Journal of Zoology 67: 2731-2739

Pinder, A.M. & Brinkhurst, R.O. 1994. A Preliminary Guide to the Identification of the Microdrile Oligochaeta of Australian Inland Waters. Albury, New South Wales : Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology 137 pp. [out of print]

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