Aquatic Invertebrates of Montana

Montana Oligochaeta List Summary

These are poorly known in Montana, but they are under current investigaiton in support of salmonid whirling disease research. Currently 6 families and about 31 species are known from Montana.

The following codes apply to the species list:

• ?species -this species is expected in Montana, but not yet seen, or recognized
• !species -this species is reported from Montana in the literature, but not yet seen.
• species? -this species is not fully verified in Montana yet.

Recent Discoveries

Everything is recent- I will start using this for 1997 finds!

Research Needs

This remains a wide open field in our area. I am particularly interesting in getting help in sampling the bottoms of Montana lakes.

Some name changes

• Peloscolex freyi is now Isochaetides freyi
• Psammoryctides minutus is now Varichaetadrilus minutus
• Tubifex kessleri americanus is now Tasserkidrilus kessleri
• Psammoryctides curvisetosus is now Isochaetides curvisetosus
• Peloscolex nikolskyi is now Spirosperma nikolskyi
• Peloscolex oregonensis is now Spirosperma nikolskyi
• Peloscolex variegatus is now Spirosperma nikolskyi

Acknowledgements

• Ralph Brinkhurst and Deedee Kathman (Aquatic Resources Center Franklin, TN) have provided useful information of working with oligochaetes and they have determined many Montana specimens.
• Mark Wetzel (Illinois Natural History Survey) provided useful information of working with oligochaetes and has determined some Montana specimens.