Lumbriculus variegatus (Muller)

Recognition

The prostomium lacks a proboscis and the chaetae are bifid like Stylodrilus heringianus, but it is much more elongate and cylindrical, it is prone to fragment, it is dark red in life with a dark green tinge anteriorly, the penes are not permanently everted, and the prostomium is a long cone.

Summary

A large worm up to about 100 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width. Reproduction is often asexual by fragmentation. The number and position of the reproductive organs are variable and there are a number of subspecies, species or genera sometimes recognized. This is a common and abundant species.

Distribution

Holarctic, but widely introduced into the southern hemisphere.

26 MAY 1996 D.L. Gustafson
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dlg@rivers.oscs.montana.edu