MARINE MEIOBENTHIC OLIGOCHAETA FROM HERON AND WISTARI REEFS (GREAT BARRIER REEF) OF GENERA CLITELLIO, LIMNODRILOIDES AND PHALLODRILUS (TUBIFICIDAE) AND GRANIA (ENCHYTRAEIDAE)

Marine microdrile oligochaetes are described for the 1st time from Eastern Australia, occurring in the sublittoral zone beneath coral clumps on the sand flat and shallow lagoon of Heron and Wistari reefs. A population density of 20,000 worms/m3, or 2/100 cm3, is estimated for Heron Reef. Clitellio arenicolus queenslandicus subsp. nov. has proportionately smaller atria than the nominate subspecies from Naples and North America. Synonymy of C. subtilis Pierantoni with this species is questioned. Limnodriloides winckelmanni Michaelsen is described for the 1st time since its description for South-west African material but L. barnardi Cook, from Baja California, Mexico, is regarded as a junior synonym. The genus Phallodrilus is redefined to include Torodrilus lowryi Cook, Rhyacodrilus prostatus Knollner and 2 new spp., P. albidus and P. rohdei, and a key to the 12 spp. of Phallodrilus is given. Grania macrochaeta trichaeta subsp. nov. (Enchytraeidae) is added to the 3 ssp. of G. macrochaeta recently recognized.