A NEW SPECIES OF PHREODRILIDAE (OLIGOCHAETA), ASTACOPOSIDRILUS-NACERISP-NOV, FROM MOROCCO (NORTH-AFRICA), WITH NOTES ON THE BIOGEOGRAPHY OF THE FAMILY

Previously only known in Australia and mainly ectoparasitic, the genus Astacopsidrilus has been found in groundwaters of North Africa (Moroc co) for the first time. The characteristics of Astacopsidrilus naceri sp.nov. include two setae in ventral bundles, one simple-pointed and o ne bifid with the upper tooth reduced, deep spermathecal vestibules ru nning to the dorsal wall of the body, with muscular attachment in whic h the female funnel is probably involved, and sperm organised into thi n, elongated, and spirally coiled bundles. The location of the new spe cies in North Africa extends the distribution of the family above the Tropic of Cancer. Compilation of records known thus far supports a pan -Gondwanian origin of the family. The occurrence of the family in refu ges above the Tropic of Capricorn led us to assume that the species is a relict in this geographical zone and to predict the existence of th e family in groundwaters of Arabian Peninsula.