''Aeolosoma'' is a genus of minute

annelid The annelids (), also known as the segmented worms, are animals that comprise the phylum Annelida (; ). The phylum contains over 22,000 extant species, including ragworms, earthworms, and leeches. The species exist in and have adapted to vario ...

worms, variously attributed either to

oligochaetes Oligochaeta () is a subclass of soft-bodied animals in the phylum Annelida, which is made up of many types of aquatic and terrestrial worms, including all of the various earthworms. Specifically, oligochaetes comprise the terrestrial megadril ...

polychaetes Polychaeta () is a paraphyletic class of generally marine annelid worms, commonly called bristle worms or polychaetes (). Each body segment has a pair of fleshy protrusions called parapodia that bear many bristles, called chaetae, which are m ...

. Unlike most polychaetes, they reside in

freshwater Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. The term excludes seawater and brackish water, but it does include non-salty mi ...

environments in various parts of the world. ''Aeolosoma'' usually reproduce asexually. This is done by paratomy or

Fragmentation (reproduction) Fragmentation in multicellular or colonial organisms is a form of asexual reproduction or cloning, where an organism is split into fragments upon maturation and the split part becomes the new individual. The organism may develop specific organs o ...

, when the posterior segments are separated from the parent worm. It starts when the worm reaches a certain number of millimeters (depending on the species). Only one species, ''Aeolosoma singulare'', is known to reproduce sexually. ''Aeolosoma'' feed on microalgae, microorganisms and detritus. Their mouth acts like a small vacuum cleaner, which helps them suck up their food into their system.

Morphology

''Aeolosoma'' are transparent worms, very thin and of the length of 1.5–2 millimetres, although some can reach up to 5 millimetres. Their bodies are transparent and segmented, usually comprising around 17 segments. Each segment, except for the first, consists of bundles of bristle-like structures known as setae or chaetae, which aid in locomotion. The

Prostomium The prostomium (From Ancient Greek, meaning "before the mouth"; : prostomia; sometimes also called the "acron") is the Cephalization, cephalized first body segment in an annelid worm's body at the anterior end. It is in front of (but does not in ...

(head region) is broader than the subsequent segments and is equipped with ventral cilia that facilitate movement and feeding, Notably, ''Aeolosoma'' lacks appendages on the head and parapodia (lateral outgrowths) found in some other annelids. The integument contains pigmented epidermal glands filled with coloured oil droplets, which can be red, yellow, green, or occasionally colourless, giving the worms a distinctive hue. ''Aeolosoma'' exhibits a high capacity for regeneration, with some species capable of regrowing both anterior and posterior segments within a week after amputation.

Habitat and Distribution

''Aeolosoma'' species are predominantly found in freshwater environments, including streams, rivers, lakes, and other water bodies rich in organic matter. They inhabit sediments, often residing among aquatic plants and detritus-rich sands. For example, ''Aeolosoma gertae'' is commonly found in fish ponds, rivers, lakes, and other freshwater bodies in Bangladesh. Geographically, ''Aeolosoma'' species have a

cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, a cosmopolitan distribution is the range of a taxon that extends across most or all of the surface of the Earth, in appropriate habitats; most cosmopolitan species are known to be highly adaptable to a range of climatic and en ...

, occurring in various regions worldwide. They were discovered in alpine habitats in Europe, specifically near Italy, while also occurring in water systems in New York. Their widespread presence and distribution is attributed to their small size, reproductive strategies, and ability to inhabit diverse environments, including sediments rich in organic matter.

Species

Below is a list of species in the genus ''Aeolosoma''. * '' Aeolosoma beddardi'' * ''Aeolosoma evelinae'' * ''Aeolosoma gertae'' * '' Aeolosoma headleyi'' * '' Aeolosoma hemprichi'' * ''Aeolosoma hyalinum'' * '' Aeolosoma leidyi'' * '' Aeolosoma niveum'' * '' Aeolosoma tenebrarum'' * ''Aeolosoma travancorense'' * '' Aeolosoma variegatum''

Gallery

File:Малощетинковый червь Aeolosoma поедает частицы ила.webm, Aeolosoma hemprichi Video File:Aeolosoma under the microscope.jpg, Aeolosoma hemprichi Photo File:Aeolosoma_under_the_microscope_video.webm, Aeolosoma hemprichi Video

References

Polychaete genera Annelids {{annelid-stub