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More than one hundred years ago, Bohumil Čejka described peculiar elongate tubules in the posterior region of the intestine of Hepatogaster birulae, a new terrestrial enchytraeid species collected in North-East Siberia. The tubules have no cilia but a proper epithelium and they run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the intestine over several segments, inside the intestinal epithelium but in close contact with the blood sinus. The tubules end blindly anteriorly and with a porus to the intestinal lumen posteriorly. The number of tubules increases from posterior to anterior due to bifurcations, and their diameter decreases. Čejka hypothesized that these tubules are glands that provide secretions for the final process of digestion or that aid in the egestion of faeces. He found them only in one species, Hepatogaster birulae, which was later synonymized with Henlea ochracea. In recent years we screened a large number of terrestrial enchytraeids in vivo and found these peculiar tubules in two further species of Henlea, in one species of Oconnorella and in thirteen species of Fridericia. The pores of these tubules are always located near the transition from midgut to hindgut. The tubules vary among species in extent and branching pattern, and several types can be distinguished. We suggest naming the structures ‘Cejkaian tubules’ in honour and memory of the finder, whose last publication dates from 1914. ‘Cejkaian tubules’ were not found in every species of Henlea and Fridericia, and they seem to be absent in other genera, but techniques other than in vivo light microscopy are required to confirm their absence with certainty. As to their function, we hypothesize the opposite of Čejka, not secretion but resorption, possibly of water, similar to the colon in tetrapod vertebrates.

In the framework of the German-Brazilian project SOLOBIOMA (‘Soil biota and biogeochemistry in the Southern Atlantic rainforests of Brazil’), soil invertebrates were sampled in different regeneration stages of forest: pastures, young, medium and advanced secondary forests as well as old-growth forests. Thirty-nine study sites were located in two private nature reserves situated in neighbouring regions of the southern Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) in Paraná, Brazil. All sites were characterized in terms of climate, history of use (age), vegetation, and soil properties. Here we report on the species diversity of pot worms (Oligochaeta: Enchytraeidae) in these sites, sampled with ISO standard methods. At each site ten soil cores of 5.7 cm diameter were taken once between 2003 and 2008, wet extracted and all pot worms identified alive soon after sampling. Most of the 61 species found in this study were new to science. The enchytraeid fauna of the region is dominated by species of the genera Achaeta, Guaranidrilus and Hemienchytraeus. To date, six species of the genus Achaeta, three species of the new genus Xetadrilus and four species of the species-rich genus Guaranidrilus were described by some of the authors. The terrestrial enchytraeid fauna of Paraná is composed partly of (probably) endemic species (e.g. Achaeta paranensis), partly of species with a known wider distribution within South America (e.g. Hemienchytraeus patricii). Species-poor genera are Fridericia, Enchytraeusand Marionina. On average, enchytraeid abundance was low (i.e. less than 5000 ind m-2). Highest abundance was found in old-growth forests. Species assemblages respond to soil type and vegetation type, and some preferences at the species or genus level could be identified. Due to their small size, low abundance and resulting low biomass enchytraeid worms seem to have little ecological importance in terms of energy flux and nutrient turnover, especially when compared with earthworms. However, due to their species richness they may be useful to indicate the biological status of a site in terms of biological soil quality or perturbation.

The checklist of accepted species of Enchytraeidae in Schmelz & Collado (2012) included 676 species (682 with subspecies). Subsequently, 34 new species and 2 new subspecies were described, and one new genus was erected. Furthermore, several changes in the status of species and genus names occurred (invalidations, revalidations, new combinations). The following lists are meant as a supplement to the checklist in Schmelz & Collado (2012).

Introducción: la hipertensión aterial en niños y adolescentes constituye un problema de salud importante por su incidencia y prevalencia crecientes. Objetivo: describir los elementos teóricos útiles sobre la hipertensión arterial en la niñez y adolescencia. Métodos: en el Policlínico ¨4 de Abril¨ de Guantánamo, entre septiembre y diciembre de 2021, se realizó una revisión narrativa a través de búsquedas en bases de datos electrónicas (LILACS, PubMed, SciELO, Redalyc y Elsevier), de artículos originales y revisiones sistemáticas que incluyeron información relacionada con la hipertensión arterial en la niñez y adolescencia. Se emplearon los operadores booleanos AND, OR y NOT, así como la estrategia de búsqueda avanzada para la selección de los artículos. Se ejecutó el análisis de la información más relevante y así se conformó el informe final, mediante el empleo de 25 artículos publicados. Resultados: se describieron aspectos que sustentan que la hipertensión arterial en la niñez y adolescencia es considerada una enfermedad crónica, donde interactúan varios factores de riesgo, y en el que el estilo de vida saludable permite el control de la enfermedad. Se reflejó que la enfermedad tiene causas primarias o secundarias, los diferentes tipos de hipertensión arterial, así como los criterios de las Guías americana y europea. Conclusiones: se describen los aspectos teóricos útiles sobre la hipertensión arterial en la niñez y adolescencia.

This list of new species continues the lists of new enchytraeid taxa published in previous volumes of the Newsletter on Enchytraeidae. Henlea pertoserica, ignored for over 20 years, was kindly brought to our attention by Dr Timm. Achaeta hanagarthi Schmelz, 2008 Achaeta paranensis Schmelz, 2008 Achaeta singularis Schmelz, 2008 Fridericia dianchiensis Chen & Xie, 2008 Fridericia lacii Dózsa-Farkas, 2009 Lumbricillus healyae Rodriguez & Rico, 2008 Henlea pertoserica Popčenko, 1988 Marionina scintillans Boros & Dózsa-Farkas, 2008 Marionina triplex Matamoros, Yildiz & Erséus, 2007

A guide to European terrestrial and freshwater enchytraeid species is presented, designed for the identification of living specimens. Altogether 206 species are included. Recent taxonomic advances regarding new species, revisions, and improved standards of description are integrated. Marine and exotic species are excluded. The illustrated keys are preceded by introductions into the taxonomic traits, the general anatomy of enchytraeids, and the technique of handling living worms during the identification process. Due to persistent taxonomic problems in many groups, a 'sensu lato' approach is adopted in the circumscription of several common species. Bryodrilus ehlersi glandulosus Dózsa-Farkas, 1990 and Enchytraeus christenseni bisetosus Rota & Healy, 1994 are elevated to species rank; the latter receives a new name, Enchytraeus dichaetus, due to homonymy with Enchytraeus bisetosus Levinsen, 1884, now Fridericia bisetosa. Marionina libra Nielsen & Christensen, 1959 is transferred to Bryodrilus. Marionina serbui Botea, 1984 is synonymised with Buchholzia simplex Nielsen & Christensen, 1963. Mesenchytraeus franzi Nurminen, 1977, Euenchytraeus bisetosus Bretscher, 1906 and Cognettia clarae Bauer, 1993 are probably one species. The youngest name is maintained here, pending a systematic revision of the group. The purpose of this key is to facilitate and to stimulate work with enchytraeids.

Abstract  The species composition and relative abundance of the annelid benthic macrofauna (Polychaeta and Oligochaeta) inhabiting the rocky intertidal zone of the ria of Ferrol (Galicia, NW Spain) were studied during field collections, from 2000 to 2002. A total of 14,619 specimens (11,585 polychaetes belonging to 76 species and 24 families and 3,034 oligochaetes belonging to 18 species and two families) were collected from 98 quantitative samples taken from 13 sampling sites. The general spatial distribution of the annelid fauna reflects an increase of the diversity from the inner to the outer part of the ria. The general patterns found in the annelid composition suggest that the assemblages were dominated by oligochaetes in the inner sheltered sampling sites and polychaetes in the outer more exposed sites. Several faunistical and taxonomical remarks on selected species are presented. Two new species of oligochaetes are described: Coralliodrilus artabrensis sp. n. and Pirodrilus fungithecatus sp. n. (Naididae, Phallodrilinae). A new biological index, based on the oligochaete/polychaete ratio (O/P), is proposed as tool to evaluate environmental quality and to monitor future changes in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]