Abstract
DURING a recent visit to North Wales an effort was made to increase our knowledge of its oligochæte fauna. The most interesting result was the discovery in three different localities of as many different forms of one worm, usually known as the Venetian worm (Eisenia veneta Rosa). In a rubbish heap near some gardens in Colwyn Bay I came across one specimen which closely resembles Rosa's type. Hitherto this has only been found at Kew, where it is probably an introduction. The Welsh specimen, however, has tubercula pubertatis on four segments on one side, while the normal two are on the other. This recalls the variety zebra. In a garden near by several specimens of a very different form occurred. In almost every British earthworm the girdle is much more fully developed dorsally than ventrally, but in these the conditions were exactly reversed. So characteristic is the appearance as to justify a distinguishing name, and this variety may be known as tumida. The third form was found under the bark of a tree along with several dendrobsenic worms, and this closely resembles some of the other varieties which have been described.
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FRIEND, H. A Polymorphic Oligochæte. Nature 119, 281 (1927). https://doi.org/10.1038/119281a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/119281a0
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