AQUATIC OLIGOCHAETA IN ITALY, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NAIDIDAE

We present a list of Italian freshwater and marine Oligochaeta in the families Lumbriculidae, Haplotaxidae, Tubificidae, Naididae, Propappid ae, Criodrilidae, and Lumbricidae, representing 57 genera and 130 spec ies. Published data reflect the incomplete knowledge of the Italian ol igochaete fauna, restricted to certain geographical areas. Subterranea n aquatic and marine fauna are of particular interest as these have be en studied the least. We provide a comprehensive review of the Naidida e including, for the first time, southern Italy and the islands of Sic ily and Sardinia. The distribution of species is discussed and taxonom ic problems arising from the morphological variability of Italian mate rial are examined.