Subclass TUBIFICATA Jamieson, 1988

Aquatic oligochaete

© Copyright Adrian Pinder. CALM.

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Regional Maps

• Tubificata Jamieson, B.G.M. 1988. On the phylogeny and higher classification of the Oligochaeta. Cladistics 4: 367-410 [396].

Introduction

The Tubificata contains almost all of so-called 'microdrile' families (except for the Lumbriculidae) which generally occur in marine and/or freshwater habitats. They are small, mostly aquatic worms that have a single pair of testes leading to male pores on the subsequent segment (plesioporous ducts) and a single pair of ovaries, normally in the same segment as the male pores. Included families are the Tubificidae, Naididae, Phreodrilidae, Enchytraeidae and Capilloventridae in Australia and three additional families, Narapidae, Opistocystidae and Randidrilidae, not found in Australia. All are placed in the order Tubificida which is divided into two subgroups at the suborder level: the Enchytraeina (Enchytraeidae, Propappidae and Capilloventridae) and the Tubificina containing the remaining families.

• Jamieson, B.G.M. 1988. On the phylogeny and higher classification of the Oligochaeta. Cladistics 4: 367-410 [396]

Diagnosis

One pair of testes in one segment, followed in next segment with one pair of ovaries. Male pores in ovarian segment. Female pores behind male pores (usually in posterior intersegmental furrow of ovarian segment or anteriorly on following segment).

General References

Brinkhurst, R.O. 1982. Evolution in the Annelida. Canadian Journal of Zoology 60: 1043-1059

Brinkhurst, R.O. 1982. Oligochaeta. pp. 50-61 in Parker, S.P. (ed.). Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms. New York, London : McGraw-Hill Book Company

Jamieson, B.G.M. 1988. On the phylogeny and higher classification of the Oligochaeta. Cladistics 4: 367-410