The origin of oligochaetes European part of the Palaearctic

The paper provides data on genesis and development of oligochaetes in the European part of the Palaearctic. In the north of Europe there were found 183 species and subspecies of oligochaetes. Genetically the fauna here is heterogeneous: cosmopolitan, Holarctic, Palaearctic representatives, as well as species living only in the Euro- Siberian subregion, and so far only found in the waters of northern Europe and intermittent habitat types. The main part of oligochaeta fauna has a wide habitat (70%): cosmopolitans or bipolar, Holarctic and Palaearctic. Oligochaeta fauna of northern Europe is relatively young and was formed during the last 13-15 thousand years. Its modern habitat was particularly influenced by the upper Paleozoic. By the end of the Neogene there existed practically all genera of oligochaetes, and the majority of species in the modern understanding of their taxonomy. The uplift of the Alps and climatic changes contributed to the evolution of oligochaetes. In the Tertiary period when Europe, Asia and North America reconnected, the Holarctic was densely populated by the species of Naididae family, as well as several members of the genera Aulodrilus, Limnodrilus, Tubifex, Lumbriculus variegatus, etc.