Genus Microscolex Rosa, 1887

Museums

Regional Maps

• Microscolex Rosa, D. 1887. Microscolex modestus n. gen., n. sp. Bollettino Musei di Zoologia ed Anatomia comparata 2(19): 1 [1].

  Type species:

   Lumbricus phosphoreus Dugès, 1837 by original designation.

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

ACT, NSW, SA, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Esperance Plains (ESP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gawler (GAW), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Jarrah Forest (JF), Kanmantoo (KAN), Mallee (MAL), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Warren (WAR), Yalgoo (YAL) ; NSW, Tas: Ben Lomond (BEL), Flinders (FLI), King (KIN), NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE)

Other Regions

Macquarie Island terrestrial & freshwater

Diagnosis

Setae 8 per segment; dd typically less than 30% of the circumference. Genital setae absent; penial setae present. Prostates 2 pairs, their pores on XVII and XIX, or 1 pair on XVII. Male pores 1 pair, on XVII or XVIII, rarely fused with the anterior prostatic pores. Spermathecal pores 2 pairs, in 7/8 and 8/9, or 1 pair in 7/8 or 8/9; rarely (M. dubius) absent. Last hearts typically in XII. Nephropores a single series on each side, at least after a few anterior segments. Extramural calciferous glands absent or present (M. dubius). Gizzard reduced or rudimentary, sometimes well developed. Holandric, or proandric with or without rudimentary funnels in XI. Testis-sacs absent. Nephridia with simple ovoid, pear-shaped or tubular, never J-shaped, terminal vesicles. [From Dyne & Jamieson 2004]

General References

Dyne, G.R. & Jamieson, B.G.M. 2004. Native Earthworms of Australia II (Megascolicidae, Acanthodrilinae). Canberra, Australia : Australian Biological Resources Study (CD-ROM). [153] (diagnosis)

History of changes