Eclipidrilus (Eclipidrilus) frigidus Eisen

Recognition

A lumbiculid without a proboscis and with simple pointed chaetae. Western Montana has a very common worm that fits this description, but positive identification has not yet been made. Mature worms have been very hard to come by. It is superficially very similar to Lumbriculus variegatus, which means that a close look at the chaetae is necessary. Eclipidrilus frigidus has spermathecal pores paired on segment 9 and paired testes in 9 and 10 with and paired male pores on segment 10. The penes are long, eversible and lack a sheath.

Summary

This is a smaller lumbriculid being about 20 to 30 mm long. The Montana specimens are much bigger than this and appear to have unpaired reproductive parts. This could be the eastern species E. (Leptodrilus) lacustris Verrill or maybe something else, all-together. I hope to get new material to the experts to get this cleared up!

Distribution

It is reported from California and Idaho.

29 DEC 1996 D.L. Gustafson
AIM home page
dlg@rivers.oscs.montana.edu