Order TUBIFICIDA Brinkhurst, 1982
Compiler and date details
Adrian M. Pinder
- Tubificida Brinkhurst, R.O. 1982. Evolution in the Annelida. Canadian Journal of Zoology 60: 1043-1059 [1057].
Introduction
A redundant clade containing all members of the Tubificata. See individual families for details.
Diagnosis
Mostly aquatic oligochaetes with just one pair of testes and one pair of ovaries in successive segments, with often complex male ducts leading to pores in ovarian segment. Position of the single pair of spermathecae variable but normally anterior to the gonadal segments. Body wall generally thin, clitellum one cell thick. Small in size (usually <20mm). Usually more than two chaetae per bundle, chaetae often with forked or comb-like tips.