Pietro Omodeo

History of Clitellata

Abstract The origin and evolution of Clitellata are discussed by inductive method, taking into account the morphological, ecological and embryonic characters of the microdriles, hirudineans and megadriles. Special attention is focused on the vascular system and on the female and copulatory apparatuses. The two marine littoral families Capilloventridae and Randiellidae, evidently primitive, contribute with their morphology and anatomy to reconstructing the physiognomy of ancestral Clitellata, but their relationships to the other microdrile families are still obscure. The Naididae and the Enchytraeidae also remain by themselves, as do the two interrelated families Tubificidae and Phreodrilidae. The primitive looking Haplotaxidae appear to be related to the Lum‐briculidae and the Alluroididae; the latter are allied to the Monili‐gastridae. Lumping together Branchiobdellae, Acanthobdellae and Euhirudinea seems to be justified, and so does suggesting the derivation of the hirudineans from the Naididae. The thr...

Evolution and biogeography of megadriles (Annelida, Clitellata)

Abstract The evolution of megadriles is analysed employing the traditional comparative method supplemented with palaeogeographic information drawn from plate tectonics. The origin of the group is considered in relation to special physiological and developmental strategies which evolved in response to life in compact soil and the acquisition of a larger body size. Further evolution, also related to the terricolous habits, implied differentiations of intestinal structures and modifications of the mating mechanics. The required modifications went on in divergent ways in the three superfamilies Lumbricoidea, Megascolecoidea, and Eudriloidea. The most primitive among the Lumbricoidea, which stemmed from some strain akin to the Haplotaxidae, are limicolous and are distributed over a broad territory corresponding to the northern and central regions of the Lower Triassic Pangaea. Based on ovarian structure, these megadriles may be divided into a northern strain, that originated in Laurasia, and a southern strain, that originated in Gondwana. The geographical range of the main families of Lumbricoidea suggests that they differentiated at a time when the continental masses were separated during the Cretaceous. The most primitive among the Megascolecoidea are the Ocnerodrilidae, which are mostly limnic. Some peculiarities of their sexual apparatus suggest that they might have derived from a strain akin to the Alluroididae. On account of their more advanced adaptations of the copulatory apparatus, the fully terrestrial families Acanthodrilidae and Octochaetidae appear to have derived from some ocnerodrilid ancestor. The geographical range of the Octochaetidae suggests that they evolved in the central region of Triassic Pangaea. The distribution of the Acanthodrilidae supports the hypothesis that they originated in southern and eastern Gondwana and then spread into the western and northern regions, but the taxon is possibly polyphyletic. The Megascoleci‐dae, which are the most diverse family of the group, appear to have stemmed from some ancestor akin to the acanthodrilids following their acquisition of further anatomical and physiological modifications of the copulatory apparatus. Native to Australia and New Zealand, they spread northwards to Indochina and the Asian Far East, as well as to the Pacific coast of North America ‐ possibly during the Cenozoic era. The Eudriloidea, endemic to intertropical Africa, are characterized by the extreme variation of the sexual apparatus, particularly the female structures. They probably took origin from an alluroidid ancestor, but not the same one from which the Megascolecoidea originated. In this superfamily, evolutionary processes seem to have proceeded more rapidly. More generally, the evolution of megadriles is characterized by numerous instances of convergence and remarkably slow speed, but speciation events in Megascolecidae and Eudrilidae were apparently very frequent.

Earthworms of Turkey

Abstract About 2000 earthworm specimens, collected during 1987–1988 in 50 localities of North‐Western Turkey, are described and classified. They belong to 51 species, 14 of which have not previously been described. For some new species it has been necessary to institute the new genus Healyella which is closely related to the genus Spermophorodrilus Bouche; both these genera are included in the new lumbricid subfamily Spermophorodrilinae, characterized by a peculiar pattern of copulating. Six other new species, some of which show curious morphological traits, are included in the genus Dendrobaena, and one in the genus Allolobophora. On the whole, the faunistic sample offers an interesting picture of the fauna of Turkey, which appears to be strongly linked to that of Caucasus; less evident but equally certain are relationships with the Carpatho‐Balkan fauna.

Earthworms of Turkey. II.

Abstract A new collection of about 1000 earthworm specimens form Turkey has been studied. 27 species were identified, 3 of which are new for the country (Eiseniella colchidica, Allolobophora minuscula, A. bellicosa; a new subspecies has also been described. In the southwestern vilayets the fauna is poorer than in the northern ones, due to the absence of the endemic subfamily Sper‐mophorodrilinae and to a much lesser number of species of Den‐drobaena. In the northwest the massif of Ulu Dag possesses a peculiar autochthonous fauna. The commonest species living in the caves here considered are Allolobophora rosea and Dendrodrilus rubidus. A new diagnosis of the genus Eiseniella is proposed.

Particolarità della zoogeografia dei lombrichi

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Some new species of Haplotaxidae (Oligochaeta) from Guinea and remarks on the history of the family

Three new species of Haplotaxidae collected by Dr. A. Villiers in a cave near Kindia, Guinea, are described. One species belongs to the genus Metataxis Righi, 1985 (M carnivorus sp. nov.) which is distributed in Western Africa and Eastern America. Another new species is similar to Lycodrilus kraepelini Michaelsen, 1914 incertae sedis: a new genus Villiersia is proposed for both species (V. guanivora sp. nov., V. kraepelini nov. comb.).

The genus Eophila (Lumbricidae, Oligochaeta)

Abstract The rare and poorly known lumbricid Eophila tellinii, type species of the genus inquirendum Eophila (Rosa, 1894), is described anew. is quite different from the type species of the lumbricid genera escribed before 1894: thus, according to international usage, the genus Eophila is valid. A new lumbricid from Turkey together with other less known endemic species that may be assigned to this genus are described. The close relationships between the genus Snhentheca (Bouche, 1972) and Eophila are discussed.

Kathrynella, a new oligochaete genus from Guyana

Kathrynella guyanae gen. n., sp. n. from a limicolous habitat in Guyana is described. It is distinguished from the known genera of Alluroididae by having testes in XI, male pores in XIV, and one pair of spermathecae opening laterally at 6/7. The circulatory apparatus appears remarkably developed. The diagnosis of the family is emended to include the new species.

New alluroidids (Annelida, Clitellata) from Guyana

A new genus and two new species of Alluroididae are described from Guyana and additional data are provided for two previously known species. Brinkhurstia donaldin. sp. is characterized by very long ribbon-like penial chaetae and an unpaired spermatheca with a sperm-filled diverticulum and opening mid-dorsally at 7/8. Righiella n. gen. is metandric and without penial chaetae; R. jamiesoni n. sp. has a large, unpaired spermatheca (devoid of diverticula) which also opens mid-dorsally at 7/8. Brinkhurstia donaldi and Righiella jamiesoni were found in running waters in creeks, whereas Brinkhurstia americana (Brinkhurst, 1964) and Kathrynella guyanae Omodeo, 1996 were collected in anoxic mud in a pool.

Phylogeny of Lumbricina: re-examination of an authoritative hypothesis

Abstract The phylogenetic relationships between the genera Alma, Drilocrius and Criodrilus (aquatic megadriles) and the terrestrial families Hormogastridae and Lumbricidae have been analysed. The anatomy of circulatory and copulatory systems has been considered together with the microanatomy of the female reproductive apparatus and the relationships between clitellum and gizzards. From this study it emerges that: (1) Alma is only remotely related to the other taxa here considered; (2) Drilocrius is very close to the ancestor of Criodrilus , and (3) the terrestrial Hormogastridae and Lumbricidae can be derived from a hypothetical Archihormogaster closely related to Drilocrius .