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.

13 APR 1996, updated on 29 DEC 1996 D.L. Gustafson
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dlg@rivers.oscs.montana.edu