CLASSIFICATION OF NEPHELES (ERPOBDELLA)
PHYLUM :- ANNELIDA (Metamerically segmented, coelomate and laterally symmetrical. )
CLASS :- CLITELLATA (having a clitellum – the ‘collar’ that forms a reproductive cocoon during part of their life cycles)
SUB-CLASS :- HIRUDINEA (Annelids with fixed segments, without parapodia and with anterior and posterior
suckers.)
ORDER :- ARCHYNCHOBDELLIDA OR GNATHOBDELLIDA (Proboscis non-protrusible; jaws present.)
FAMILY :- HIRUDINIDAE
GENUS :- Nepheles
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
It has cosmopolitan distribution.
HABIT AND HABITAT
Nepheles is found in ponds and streams, under stones and water plants. It is predaceous form with indiscriminating appetites, feeding upon insect larvae, planarians, snails and crustaceans.
GENERAL CHARACTERSTICS OF NEPHELES (ERPOBDELLA)
- Body is elongated, cylindrical and whitish in colour with distinct posterior sucker. The margins of the body are smooth.
- Each body segment has 5 annuli or rings. The annuli and true segments are not easily demarcated and consist of 19 segments.
- Head is not prominent but can be recognized by having 2 pairs of eyes.
- Setae, parapodia and jaws are absent.
- Genital pores are separated by 203 rings.
- Development takes place in cocoons.
IDENTIFICATION
The animal contains 10 segments and all above features, hence it is Nepheles.
