Key to Australian Freshwater and Terrestrial Invertebrates
Phylum Annelida
Class Clitellata
Family Capilloventridae
Common names: capilloventrids
Overview
A poorly studied group, the relationship of the Capilloventridae to the rest of the Clitellata is unresolved. The unique feature of the family is the presence of hair setae in ventral bundles.
Distribution and diversity
There are only five species from a single genus, Capilloventer, described worldwide. Two of these are marine, one from Brazil and the other from Antarctica. The other three species are described from freshwater in Australia. C. australis was described from NSW, whilst C. acheronensis and C. longicapitus are found in Victoria.
Life cycle
Capilloventrids are hermaphroditic, but little else is known about their biology or reproductive processes.
Feeding
Little is known about the feeding behaviours of the Capilloventridae.
Ecology
Freshwater Capilloventridae inhabit streams, rivers and upper reaches of estuaries, usually with sandy sediments.
