Dendrobaena byblica (Rosa, 1893)

Description – External – Body length ? – ? mm, diameter ? – ? mm, ? – ? segments. Colour red-violet, head epilobous, first dorsal pore in ?. Glandular tumescence usually on 9, 10, 11 ab. Setae distantly standing, setal arrangement after the clitellum: aa:ab:bc:cd:dd= xxxxx. Clitellum extends on segments 23, 24 – 29 saddle–shaped. Tubercles on 25 – 27. Male pore small on 15, between setae b–c. Nephridial pores aligned in setal line b.

Internal – There are no dissepiments notably thickened. Crop in 15–16, gizzards in 17–18. Two pairs of testes in 10 , 11, enclosed in perioesophageal testis sac (always?). Four pairs of seminal vesicles in 9 – 12. Spermathecae two pairs in 9/10 , 10 /11, open in the setal line d. Calciferous glands in 11 with hardly recognizable diverticula. Last pair of lateral hearts in 11 . and a pair of small comissures in 12. Excretory system holonephridial. Nephridial bladders are of biscuit-shaped (octaedra. type). Cross section of longitudinal muscle layer pinnate.

Remarks – D. byblica is one of the most widely distributed earthworm taxon in the Mediterranean basin. Various forms have been described under more than 20 names that presumably represent several different species. This taxon urgently needs to be revised.

Distribution – Holomediterranean