On Regenerative Capacity of Earthworms of the Family Lumbricidae

Abstract

Published records of regenerates at single transections, in one species, Eisenia foetida (Savigny) 1826, have been brought together in Tables, I, II of two recent articles (Gates, 1949, 1950). In this note, for the first time, there are brought together the records of single transection regeneration for other species of the same family. Also included are the records for Criodrilus lacuum Hoffmeister 1845 which has been, at various times, included in the Lumbricidae. Anterior regeneration by posterior substrates.-Nearly all operations for which results have been published were in a region from 4/5 to 30/31 inclusive, as in the case of E. foetida. Regenerates at levels back to 15/16 inclusive or to 40/41 in case of C. lacuum, are included in the table herewith. In a region from 16/17 to 30/31 inclusive, regeneration was not obtained by Hescheler from any of his 54 operated individuals of four species: Allolobophora caliginosa (Savigny) 1826, A. terrestris (Savigny) 1826, E. foetida, Lumbricus rubellus Hoffmeister 1842 (see Hescheler, 1896, pp. 234-235). For levels behind 30/31 there are records for four species. A. terrestrisRegenerates of unspecified nature, of 14 and 18-20 segments, at L19S and ca. L14S (12 unverletzten und 2 verletzten Segmenten, Korschelt, 1897, p. 102 and 1898, p. 80 and p. 82, fig. 7) respectively. As the species may have as many as 200 segments, the levels could be 181/182 and 186/187 or anteriorly. L. rubellus-Regenerate of unspecified nature, of eight segments,