ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THE LOCOMOTOR AND RESPIRATORY MOVEMENTS OF TUBIFICID WORMS BY MEANS OF VIDEO RECORDING

Locomotory and respiratory movements of Tubifex tubifex (Muller, 1774) were observed in aquaria by filming living worms and analysing the vi deotapes. Worm galleries formed a network and the tubificids moved in all directions in their muddy substratum. Over half stayed in the mud for about 2 minutes; most stayed at the surface less than one hour. Ma ny specimens were able to stay deep in the mud for more than five hour s. The periodic return of tubificids to the surface, the duration of t heir stay there, the length of the body protuding from the mud and tai l waving are a function of their respiratory needs.