Chaetogaster diaphanus (Gruithuisen)
Recognition
All dorsal chaetae are normally absent only in this genus and sometimes in the
very different Ophidonais serpentina.
The shape of Chaetogaster is distinctive with large mouth and pharynx
and reduced prostomium.
Ventral chaetae are missing from segments 3, 4 and 5.
This species lacks the reflexed chaetae teeth of Chaetogaster limnaei
and it lacks the developed prostomium of Chaetogaster diastrophus.
The mouth is thus terminal.
There are no eyes or coelomocytes.
Summary
The length varies from 2.5 to about 25 mm.
A non-swimming, carnivorous worm that can be cannibalistic.
Distribution
It is a widespread holarctic species.
26 MAY 1996 D.L. Gustafson
AIM home page
dlg@rivers.oscs.montana.edu