The distribution and habitat of Limnodrilus Claparede (Oligochaeta: Tubificidae)

Abstract

The geographical distribution of the seven species of Limnodrilus is summarised. Three species are cosmopolitan, two are holarctic, one neotropical, and one is restricted to East- ern Asia and Western U.S.A. 2. Five species of the genus occur in Britain. Two, L. cervix and L. profundicola, have a very restricted distribution and it is concluded that they have both been introduced into this country within comparatively recent times. The remaining three species, L. hoffmeisteri, L. claparedeanus and L. udekemianus, are wide- spread.