Catalog of Oligochaeta Microdrili in the Invertebrates Collection – Miguel Lillo Foundation (Tucumán, Argentina)

Abstract

Aquatic Oligochaeta or Microdrili represent an important component of freshwater communities around the world, but have been ignored by ecologists and there is little information about their distribution as well as their habitat preferences. They are considered important biological indicators of environmental conditions and in South America knowledge is scarce and although it is considered that 171 species were described so far, there is no precise record. The objective of this work is to present the catalog of the Oligochaeta Microdrili of the Helminthological Collection of the Miguel Lillo Foundation (CH-O-FML) and to rescue valuable unpublished information making a contribution to the knowledge of these organisms. The vast majority of the material comes from intensive collections in the NOA and NEA regions, but almost all the provinces of Argentina and other countries in South America are also represented. The collection studied is represented by the families Naididae, Enchytreidae and Ocnerodrilidae, with 12 genera and 17 species. Distribution and habitat information is also provided for each one of them.