REDEFINITION OF TENERIDRILUS HOLMQUIST (OLIGOCHAETA, TUBIFICIDAE), WITH DESCRIPTION OF 2 NEW SPECIES FROM NORTH-AMERICA

The tubificid genus Teneridrilus Holmquist, 1985 (subfamily Tubificinae) is redefined. The genus was originally monotypic for the type species, formerly classified as Ilyodrilus mastix Brinkhurst, 1978. The genus now includes Teneridrilus columbiensis (Brinkhurst & Diaz, 1985), a new combination for Isochaetides columbiensis, and two new species. The first of these, Teneridrilus calvus, is described by Erseus & Brinkhurst, and the second, Teneridrilus flexus, by Erseus & Hiltunen. Synapomorphies for the genus are strongly modified chaetae in II and an enlarged eversible pharynx. The genus is distributed from China to British Columbia, Washington, and California in freshwater near the mouths of large rivers, and in the St. Marys River, which connects Lake Superior with Lakes Michigan and Huron.