Classification of Nepheles
Kingdom :- Animalia (Multicellular eukaryotic organisms)
Phylum :- Annelida (Segmented worms with true coelom and metamerism)
Class :- Hirudinea (Annelids with fixed segments, without parapodia and with anterior and posterior suckers)
Order :- Rhynchobdellida or gnathobdellia (Proboscis protrusible; jaws and setae absent.)
Genus :- Nepheles
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.
Distribution
It has cosmopolitan distribution.
Comments of Nepheles
- 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
Since the specimen contains 10 segments and all above features, hence it is Nepheles.
See other posts also
- EXCRETION IN HIGHER TERRESTRIAL INVERTEBRATES
- EXCRETION IN HIGHER AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES
- ORGANS AND MECHANISM OF RESPIRATION IN LOWER INVERTEBRATES
- PATTERN OF FEEDING AND DIGESTION IN HIGHER INVERTEBRATES
- PATTERN OF FEEDING AND DIGESTION IN LOWER INVERTEBRATES