Some Freshwater Oligochaeta from Kashmir, India

Prec. Indian Acad. Sci,, Vol. 88 B, Part I, Number 6, December 1979, pp. 411-419, © printed in India.

Some freshwater oligochaeta from Kashmir, India

K VANAMALA NAIDU and K ABHINENDER NAIDU* Department of Zoology, Government College, Chittoor 517 002 * Department of Zoology, S V University, Tirupati 517 502

MS received 28 February 1979; revised 26 July 1979

Abstract. Eight species of freshwater oligochaetes, Aeolosoma hemprichi Ehronberg Nais communis Piguet, Nais varial~ilis Piguet, Stylaria fossularis Leidy, Aulophorus furcatus (Muller), Pristina longiseta longiseta Ehrenberg, Tubifex tubifex Muller, and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Claparede are new to Kashmir, India.

Keywords. Oligochaetes.

1 Introduction Although 72 species of freshwater oligochaetes are known from various parts of the Indian subcontinent, no fresh-water oligochaetes are known from Kashmir region of the subcontinent. Eight species of the freshwater oligochaetes were collected from Srinagar, Acchhobal, Batote, Pahalgarn and Kokarnag. Of these one, belonged to Aeolosomatidae, five to Naididae and the remaining two to Tubi- ficidae.

2. Material and methods Freshwater algae, aquatic angiosperms, decaying vegetable and animal matter and mud were collected from different water sources and left in beakers of water. After a day or two the worms belonging to Aeolosomatidae and Naididae gathered on the walls of the beakers near the surface of the water, and the tubificids settled at the bottom mud. Living worms were examined t~nder binocular microscope for the shape, position, number and length of setae, shape and location of different sections of gut, position of dorsal and ventral blood vessels and contractile lateral vessels and position of the budding zones, etc. Worms were preserved and further study was made on them later.

3. Systematic description 3.1. Family Aeolosomatidae A eolosoma hemprichi Ehrenberg, 1828

Ehrenberg, 1828, p. 121. Stephenson, 1909, p. 277, pl. XX, figs. 53-55; 1913, p. 743, 748. Aiyer, 1926, p. 138-139. Naidu, 1961, 650-651, figs. 2a. VanDor Land, 1971, p. 670-672, figs. 13.1-13.3. 411 412 K Vanamala Naidu and K Abhinender Naidu

Material examined: Several worms from a canal near the Dal Lake, Srinagar Gollected on 27-6-1969. (length) : 1 "8 mm (Chain of 4 zooids); d (diameter) : 0'06 ram; s (number of segments) :- n (number of segments behind which budding zone develops) : 7-8. Worms are small, transparent and colourless. Integument with numerous globula," to ovoid deep red epidermal glands of different sizes dorsally and ventrally. Prostomium with ventral ciliation and lateral sensory ciliated pits. Dorsal and ventral setae begin in II, each bundle with 5-6 bayonet-shaped hair setae (figure 1), long and short setae alternate, long hair setae 90-120/~ dorsally and 70-1001t ventrally, and short setae 60-80/~ long dorsally and 45-60/t long ventrally. Mouth U-shaped with thick ciliated rim. Pharynx in II1 narrow, intestine dilated in IV-VI and narrow from VII. Dorsal blood vessel mid-dorsal and contractile on the gut, anteriorly dividing into two and uniting with non- Contractile mid-ventral vessel.

Distribution in Indian subcontinent: Ceylon; Travancore, Cuddapah, Bellary, Kakinada in South India; Lahore in Pakistan. New record for Kashmir.

World distribution : Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America.

3.2. Family Naididae Subfamily Naidinae Lastockin, 1924 Nais communis Piguet, 1906 Piguet, 1906, p. 247-253, pl. X, fig. 9, pl. XI, figs. 14-17, 19, pl. XII, fig. 11. Naidu, 1962, p. 140-142, fig. 7 A-F. Brinkhurst and Jamieson, 1971, p. 330-332, figs. 7"5 E-H. Nais communis vat. punjabensis Stephenson, 1910, 66-68, pl. VII1, figs. 1-2; 1923, p. 55-57, figs. 11-12. Aiyer, 1930, p. 21.

Nais contmunis vat. caeca Stephenson, 1910, p. 238-240, pl. XI, fig. 3; 1923, p. 57-58, fig. 13.

Nais variabilis var. punjabensis Stephenson, 1909, p. 255-263, fig. 1-3, pl. XV, figs. 1-8, pl. XVI, figs. 9-18.

Material examined : Several non-sexual worms from a canal near the Dal Lake, Srinagar collected on 27-6-1969. l~-4"5mm; d=02mm; s=26-30; n=t5-18.

Worms are pale white with yellow pigment in anterior segments. Eyes present. Dorsal bundles begin in VI, each with 1 hair seta of 150-180/z long and 1 bifid needle seta (figure 2), 50-60 II long with. a weak nodulus about 1/3 from distal end, teeth short and equal. Ventral setae (figure 3) 2-5 per bundle, all of one type, 70-85/L long with proximal nodulus in II-V and about middlein others, distal prong longer and thinner than the proximal. Pharynx in II-HI wide, oesophagus in IV-VI narrow, stomach in VII-VIII wide. Chloragogucs fi'om VI. Coelomo- cytes are spherical. Blood pale yellow. Dorsal blood vessel mid-dorsal in II-V and lateral to left of gut from VI. Tttree pairs of contractile lateral vessels in III-V connect dorsal and ventral ve sels. Some freshwater oligochaeta 413 Distribution in Indian subcontinent: Ceylon; Bheemnagar, Travancore, Cuddapah, Bangalore in South India; Khandala in Western India; Kausali, Agra in North India; Lahore in Pakistan. New record for Kashmir. World distribution: Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America. 3.3. Nais variabilis Piguet, 1906 Piguet, 1906, p. 253-260, pl. X, figs. 10-18, pl. XI, figs. 20, 21, 23, pl. XII, figs. 12-13. Sperber, 1958, p. 46-47. Brinkhurst and Jamieson, 1971, p. 332-333, fig. 7.5 1-L. Material examined : Several non-sexual worms from a canal near the Dal Lake' Srinagar collected on 27-6-1969 and from a canal at Kokarnag collected on 28-6- 1969; from a stream at Acchhabal collected on 28-6-1969. /=4"5ram; d=0"2mm; s=upto 30; n=17-19. Pigment absent in anterior segments. Eyes present. Dorsal selae begin in VI, each bundle with 1 hair seta, simple, straight, 200-230 # long and 1 bifid needle seta (figure 4) 55/z long with conspicuous nodulus about 1/3 from distal end, dislal part nearly straight tapering and ending in two short fine slightly diverging teeth, distal tooth shorter than the proximal. Ventral setae (figure 5) 2-6 per bundle, similar in all bundles, 61-68/z long, with distal prong thinner and longer than the proximal prong, in II-V nodulus proximal and in others nodulus distal. Pharynx in TI-IV wide, oesophagus in V-VII narrow, stomach in VIII wide, intestine from IX. Blood is pale yellow. Dorsal vessel mid-dorsal in II-V and lateral to the left of gut from VI onwards. Worms swim with spiral movement. Distribution in Indian subcontinent : Yercaud in South India; Afghanistan. New roaord for Kashmir. World distribution : Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America. 3.4. Stylaria fossularis Leidy, 1852 Leidy, 1852, p. 287. Naidu, 1962, p. 520-522, fig. 9 A-H. Brinkht~rst and Jamieson, 1971, p. 35, fig. 7.11 B. All and Issaque, 1975, p. 56. Stylaria lacustris (L.) Stephenson, 1909, p. 276, pl. XIX, figs. 46-48; 1923, p. 85-86, fig. 31, Aiyer, 1925, p. 31-32. Stylaria kempi Stephenson, 1916, p. 303-304, pl. XXX, fig. 2; 1923, p. 86-87, fig. 32. Material examined : Thxee non-sexual worms from a canal near the Dal Lake, Srinagar collected on 27-6-1969. l = 4--6 mm (single), 8"00-10"00 mm (chains), d = 0'30-0"35 ram; s = 27-35; n = 19 (in one). Worms are pale white with transparent body-wall. A median proboscis from the tip of the prostomium. Eyes present. Dorsal setae begin in VI, ea~h bundle

P. (B)--4 414 K Vanamala Naidu and K Abhinender Naidu with 1-2 hair setae simple, straight upto 400p long and 1-2 simple pointed needle setae (figure 6) 60-70/t long without nodulus. Ventral setae (figure 7) are all alike with the proximal part bent once and with proximal nodulus, 6-12 per bundle, 100-120/z long anteriorly, decreasing to 2 per bundle and to a length of 90-105/2 posteriorly. Pharynx in II-IV wide, oesophagus in V-VI, stomach in VII-IX, wide and barrel-shaped. Coelomocytes absent. Blood colourless. Dorsal vessel mid-dorsal in II-V and lateral to the left of the gtLt from VI onwards. Lateral contractile vessels 3 pairs in III-V.

Distribution in Indian subcontinent: Cuddapah in South India; Calcutta in East India, Bhim Tal in North India; Lahore in Pakistan ; Afghanistan ; Dacca in Bangladesh. New record for Kashmir.

Worm distribution : Asia, Africa and North America.

3.5. Aulophorus furcatus (Muller, 1773)

Stephenson, 1914, p. 332-334; 1916, p. 306-307, pl. XXX, fig. 3; 1923, p. 92-93, figs. 34; Aiyer, 1930, p. 43, Cernosvitov, 1942, p. 201-202, figs. 16-2C,. Sperber, 1958, p. 49. Naidu, 1963a, p. 899-902, fig. 20 A-G. Costa, 1967, p. 46. Brinkhtrst and Jamieson, 1971, p. 376-377, fig. 7.17 A-D.

Nais furcatus Muller, 1773, p. 23.

Dero (Aulophorus) furcatus (Mt~ller). Ali and Issaqne, t975, p. 53.

Material examined : Several non-sexual worms from a canal near the Dal Lake, Srinagar collected on 27-6-1969. /(preserved): 3-4ram; d (preserved) = 0"22ram; s = 30-38; n ---- 18-19.

Worms are pale brown. Prostomium is bluntly triangular. Eyes absent. Dorsal bundles begin in V, each bundle with 1 hair seta of 100-145/2 long, nearly straight and smooth and 1 bifid needle seta (figure 8) 48-52 p long, nodulus distal (D : P : : 6 : 10), distal tooth thinner and shorter than the proximal. Ventral setae (figure 9) 4-5 per bundle decreasing to 2 posteriorly, in II-V of 60--70/z long, nodulus median, prongs equally thick and distal longer than the proximal; in others 53-60/z long, nodulus distal, and distal prong thinner and shorter than the proximal. Stomach absent. Blood is yellow. Dorsal vessel mid-dorsal in II-V and lateral to left of the gut from VI onwards. Five pairs of contractile lateral vessels are present. Every worm showed 2-3 budding zones. Swims with brisk transverse hori- zontal movement.

Distribution in Indian subcontinent : Ceylon; Trivandrum, Ouralpatti, Tandikondi, Madras, Cuddapah, Bellary, Bangalore, Kakinada in South India; Bombay, Khed in Western India; Lahore in Pakistan; Dacca in Bangladesh. New record for Kashmir.

Worm distribution : Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, North and South America. Some freshwater oligochaeta 415

l l

f vD

Io ~ flA 12 IB Figures 1-19. 1. Aeolosoma hempriehi Ehrenberg. Hair seta. 2-3. Nais communis Piguet. 2. Needle seta. 3,4 and 3B. Ventral setae of II and VII segments. 4-5. Nais variabilis Piguet. 4. Needle seta. 5A and 5B. Ventral setae of II and VII segments. 6--7. Stylariafossularis Leidy. 6. Needle seta. 7. Ventral seta. 8-9. Aulophorus furcatus (Muller). 8. Needle seta. 9.4 and 9 B. Ventral setae of II and VIII segments. 10-11. Pristina longiseta longiseta Ehrenberg. 10. Needle seta. llA and 11B. Ventral setae of II and IX segments. 12-15. Tubifex tubi/ex (Muller). 12. Pectfnate needle seta. 13. Ventral seta. 14, Atrium; I5. Sperma- theca. 16--19. Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Claparede. 16A and 16B. Ventral setae and dorsal seta. 17. Chitinous penial sheath. 18o Atrium. 19. Sperma. theca. 416 K Vanamala Naidu and K Abhinender Naidu 3.6. Sub-family Pristininae Lastockin, 1924 Pristina longiseta longiseta Ehrenberg, 1828 Sperber, 1958, p. 52, figs. 18, 19. Naidu, 1963b, p. 216-219, fig. 34 A-K. Brink hurst and Jamieson, 1971, p. 402, figs. 7 "21 J, 7"25 E-I.

Pristina longiseta Ehrenberg, 1828, p. 112, footnote. Stephenson, 1909, p. 264- 269, text-fig. 4, pl. XVII, fig. 25, pl. XVIII, figs. 26-33, 38.

Pristina longiseta Ehrb. f. typica. Stephenson, 1923, p. 70-71, fig. 23. Aiyer, 1930, p. 24, fig. 4.

Material examined : Several non-sexual worms from the canal near the Dal lake, Srinagar collected on 27-6-1969.

l = 2-3 mm (single), 3-4 mm (chain of 2-3 zooids) d = 0.12 mm ; s = 24-28, n = 14-18.

Worms are small, pale white. Prostomium with a median proboscis. Eyes absent. Dorsal setae begin in II, each bundle with 1-3 hair setae and 1-3 needle setae. Hair setae of III specially elongated, not serrated, 650-700/z long, in others serrated 200-280/~ long. Needle setae (figure 10) are 38-50/t long, fine, simple pointed and straight with distal end slightly curved. Ventral setae (figure 11) 4-6 per bundle, in II 60-65/z long, in others 46-52/t long; nodulus proximal in II-III and about middle in others. In II-III prongs are equally thick, distal prong 1½ times longer than proximal; in others prongs are equally long, distal thinner than the proximal. Pharynx in II-III wide, oesophagus in IV-VII narrow and wavy, stomach in VIII pear shaped. Chloragogues from VI. Septal glands in IV and V. Coelomocytes spherical. Blood pale yellow. Dorsal vessel mid-dorsal. Six pairs of lateral contractile vessels in II-VII.

Distribution in Indian subcontinent: Ceylon; Bheemnagar, Trivandrum, Tandi- koudi, Ouralpatti, Cuddapah, Bangalore in South India; Bombay in Western India ; Calcutta in East India; Gwalior in Central India; Lahore in Pakistan; Dacca in Bangladesh. New record for Kashmir.

Worm distribution: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, North and South America.

3.7. Family Tubificidae : Subfamily Tubificinae Eisen, 1879

Tubifex tubifex (Muller, 1773).

Naidu, 1965, p. 464, fig. 1. Brinkhurst and Jamieson, 1971, p. 453-455, fig. 8.1 A-D, 3. 3G-J.

Tubifex (Tubifex) tubifex (Mtfller) Stephenson, 1921, p. 753; 1923, p. 106.

Lumbricus tubifex Muller, 1773, p. 24. Some freshwater oligochaeta 417

Material examined : Several worms from a carrel at Batote and a canal at Pahalgam collected on 26--6-1969 and 28-6-1969 respectively.

l = 30--38 mm ; d = 0"9 mm ; s = upto 140.

Worms are reddish. Prostomium bluntly conical. Dorsal setae begin in II, each bundle with 5-6 bayonet shaped hairs of 100-140p long, and 4-5 bifid crotchets (figure 12) 80-100/z long, with distal nodulus and distal tooth thinner and longer than proximal with 1-4 intermediate teeth in anterior 50-60 segments, in others without intermediate teeth. Ventral setae (figure 13) 3-5 bifid crotchets per brindle, 80-120/z long with distal nodulus, distal prong equal or slightly longer than proximal. Pharynx in II-III wide, oesophagus in IV-V narrow, stomach absent, intestine from VI. Coolomocytes variously shaped. Blood is yellow. Dorsal vessel mid-dorsal in II-V and lateral to left of the gut from VI. Lateral contractile vessels 3 pairs in VIII-X. Clitellun in ½X-XII. Paired testes and ovaries on posterior face laterally on septa 9/10 and 10/11 respectively. Anterior and posterior spermsacs extend to IX and XIII segments respectively, ovi-sac extends to XIV segment. Paired sperm funnels on anterior face of septum 10/11. Atria (figure 14) are pear shaped with their terminal parts modified into muscular penes with tub-shaped chitinous sheaths. Prostate and vas deferens open close to each other dorsally. Panial setae and ventral setae of XI are absent. Spermathecae (figure 15) paired, club-shaped with wide ampulla and thin ectal duct opening laterally between dorsal and ventral bundles.

Distribution in Indian subcontinent : Coonoor, Bangalore in South India. New record for Kashmir.

World distribution : Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America.

3.8. Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Claparede, 1862

Claparode, 1862, p. 248. Naidu, 1965, p. 477-479, fig. 6 a-g. Ali and Zaman, 1976, p. 91, fig. 51 A-D.

Limnodrilus socialis : Stephenson, 1912, p. 294. pl. II, fig ,. 9-16; 1923, p. 96-97, figs. 36-37; Mendis and Fernando, 1962, p. 45.

Material examined: Several worms from a canal at Pahalgam collected on 26-6-1969. l(p) = 22-26mm; d(p) = 0"9ram; s = upto 120.

Worms are reddish brown. Prostomium bluntly conical. Dorsal and ventral setae begin in II, all of one type, with 6-7 bifid crotchets (figure 16) per bundle, 65-100p long, with distal nodulus and distal prong thinner and longer than or equal to proximal prong. Pharynx in II-III wide, oesophagus in IV-VII narrow, stomach absent, intestine from VIII. Chloragogues from VI. Blood is yellowish. Dorsal vessel mid-dorsal in II-V and lateral to left of the gut from VI. Lateral contractile vessels 2 pairs in VIII and IX. Clitellum in XI-XII. Paired testes and ovaries laterally on posterior face of septa 9/10 and 10/11 respectively. Anterior 418 K Vanamala Naidu and K Abhinender Naidu and posterior spermsacs extend to IX and XVI segments respectively. Ovi-sac extends to XVII. Male funnels laterally on anterior face of septam 10/11, vasa dcferentia ttfin, long and coiled. Atria (figure 18) spindle shaped with a long coiled ejaculatory duct, distal part with chitinous sheath (figure 17) which is about 8-10 times as long as wide. Ventral setae of XI and penial setae are absent. Pros- tate compact and opens in the middle of atrium. Spermathecae (figure 19) club- shaped in X opening by transverse pores in front of the ventral bundles of X. Distribution in lndian subcontinent : Kandy in Ceylon; Adoni, Bellary, Cuddapah, Bangalore in South India; Bombay in Western India; Calcutta, Belgatchia in East India; Lahore in Pakistan; Dacca in Bangladesh. New record for Kashmir.

World distribution : Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America, Africa.

Acknowledgements KVN is extremely thankful to the Vice-Chancellor of Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, for granting the University Grants Commission travel grant to go on a collection trip to different places in Kashmir in 1969.

References

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