Rhynchelmis Hoffmeister, 1843

Fend, Steven V. & Brinkhurst, Ralph O., 2010, Contributions towards a review of the genus Rhynchelmis Hoffmeister (Clitellata: Lumbriculidae), Zootaxa 2407, pp. 1-27 : 4

Rhynchelmis Hoffmeister, 1843

Type species: R. limosella Hoffmeister, 1843

Apomorphies: first spermathecae in segment before GI (VIII); atria long and tubular; anterior testes (GI) reduced or absent; anterior vasa deferentia reduced, non functional or absent; posterior vasa without posterior loop; filiform proboscis; nephridia with dorsal loop and absent on 6/7. Spermathecae connected to gut in most species; if not, then elongated with sperm concentrated in ectal part. Branched lateral blood vessels usually present in middle and posterior segments (absent or reduced in some hyporheic or upland species).