A phylogenetic analysis of the Tubificinae (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae)

Abstract

The Tubificinae is a monophyletic taxon in relation to the outgroup Rhyacodrilus. A hypothetical ancestor with almost completely plesiomorphic character states was included in the analyses. It appears at the base of the taxon as expected when the outgroup is used for rooting, but is unresolved in relation to the genera Lymphachaeta and Peipsidrilus. The genera with elongate atria form a monophyletic group, as do all the papillate taxa with the exception of Tubificoides. The generic and subgeneric rankings of the papillate taxa that constituted the bulk of the former genus Peloscolex require cladistic evaluation. The separation of Ilyodrilus, Teneridrilus, and perhaps even Tubificoides also needs to be investigated. Clitelloides and Lycodrilides are potential synonyms of Clitellio and Lycodrilus, respectively.