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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 6024

Emilia Rota and Pietro Omodeo; Phylogeny of Lumbricina: Re-examination of an authoritative hypothesis. Soil Biol.Biochem. 24(12):1263-1277, 1992

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The phylogenetic relationship 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 relatioships 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.