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Descriptive Features:
The following information relates to Asian species as detailed studies of the Australian genus Aphanoneura are not currently available.
body may contain brightly coloured oils in epidermal glands - red, green or yellow
body segmented, up to 17 segments
internal septa dividing segments are rarely well developed and segmentation is not always externally obvious
chitinous chaetae present
hair chaetae present in both ventral and dorsal bundles
shorter sigmoid chaetae are sometimes also present, usually with finely pointed or serrated ends; clitellum absent
Total length: small worms, 0.3 - 10 mm |
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Distribution: Australia wide
Sensitivity Rating: none
Functional Feeding Group: filtering collector |
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Anbangbang Billabong, Kakadu NP NT |
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Ecology: The following information relates to Asian species as detailed studies of the Australian species are not currently available. Aphanoneurans occur in a wide range of waterbodies, in particular lentic waters. They are generally benthic animals living on plants or in detritus with some living interstitially in sediments of lakes and streams. Aphanoneurans move in a gliding motion, by way of cilia on the ventral surface of the head. These same cilia are also used to collect detritus from the water and sediment which is then sucked in through the pharynx. Aphanoneurans are hermaphrodites, generally reproducing asexually by fission. They can be found in chains of zooids attached “head to toe”. |
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Information Sources: Pinder (2004), English et al 2000 |
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