Enchytraeidae is a family of microdrile oligochaetes. They resemble small earthworms and include both terrestrial species known as potworms that live in highly organic terrestrial environments, as well as some that are marine.[1] The peculiar genus Mesenchytraeus is known as "ice worms", as they spend the majority of their lives within glaciers, only rising to the surface at certain points in the summer.[2][3] Enchytraeidae also includes the Grindal Worm (Enchytraeus buchholzi), which is commercially bred as aquarium fish food.[4]
| Enchytraeidae | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Clade: | Sedentaria |
| Class: | Clitellata |
| Order: | Tubificida |
| Superfamily: | Enchytraeoidea |
| Family: | Enchytraeidae Vejdovský, 1879 |
Selected genera edit
Enchytraeidae genera include:[5]
- Achaeta Vejdovský, 1878
- Archienchytraeus Eisen, 1878 (nomen dubium)
- Buchholzia Michaelsen, 1886
- Cernosvitoviella Nielsen & Christensen, 1959
- Christensenidrilus Dózsa-Farkas & Convey, 1998 (= Christensenia Dózsa-Farkas & Convey, 1997 (non Brinck 1945: preoccupied))
- Cognettia Nielsen & Christensen, 1959
- Enchytraeina Bülow, 1957
- Enchytraeus
- Epitelphusa Drago, 1887
- Fridericia Michaelsen, 1889
- Globulidrilus Christensen & Dózsa-Farkas, 2012
- Grania
- Hemifridericia Nielsen & Christensen, 1949
- Henlea Michaelsen, 1889 (= Henleanella)
- Lumbricillus Ørsted, 1844 (= Enchytraeoides, Pachydrilus)
- Marionina Michaelsen in Pfeffer, 1890 (= Marionia Michaelsen, 1889 (non Vayssière, 1877: preoccupied), Michaelsena, Parenchytraeus)
- Mesenchytraeus – ice worms
- Neoenchytraeus Eisen, 1878
- Randidrilus Coates & Erséus, 1985
- Stephensoniella Cernosvitov, 1934
References edit
- ^ Burgers, A. (2012-12-02). Soil Biology. Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-323-14658-6.
- ^ Hartzell, Paula L.; Nghiem, Jefferson V.; Richio, Kristina J.; Shain, Daniel H. (2011-02-15). "Distribution and phylogeny of glacier ice worms (Mesenchytraeus solifugus and Mesenchytraeus solifugus rainierensis)". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 83 (9): 1206–1213. doi:10.1139/z05-116.
- ^ Shain, Daniel H.; Mason, Tarin A.; Farrell, Angela H.; Michalewicz, Lisa A. (2001). "Distribution and behavior of ice worms (Mesenchytraeus solifugus) in south-central Alaska". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 79 (10): 1813–1821. doi:10.1139/cjz-79-10-1813. ISSN 1480-3283.
- ^ Bouguenec, V. (1992-03-15). "Oligochaetes (Tubificidae and Enchytraeidae) as food in fish rearing: a review and preliminary tests". Aquaculture. 102 (3): 201–217. doi:10.1016/0044-8486(92)90149-F. ISSN 0044-8486.
- ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Enchytraeidae d'Udekem, 1855". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) (2008): Enchytraeidae. Version of 2010-MAY-11. Retrieved 2011-FEB-06.
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