Varichaetadrilus minutus (Brinkhurst)
Recognition
The dorsal bundles with hair and pectinate chaetae.
Only mature worms can be identified.
The anterior dorsal bundles have up to 5 pectinate chaetae (palmate to sigmoid)
and 5 hairs. The posterior dorsal bundles lack hairs.
There are 3-4 thickened penial chaetae that are otherwise similar to the rest.
The penis sheath is tub-shaped.
Summary
Formerly included in Psammoryctides.
This species may include V. pacificus.
A small tubificid (7 - 12 mm).
Distribution
A western nearctic species known only from Lake Tahoe and
Alberta's Sturgeon Lake.
13 APR 1996 D.L. Gustafson
AIM home page
dlg@rivers.oscs.montana.edu