Enchytraeidae
Family of annelids
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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] Certain varieties of Enchytraeidae are partially responsible for the notorious "dark earth" archaeological layers in post-Roman Era British urban centers such as London.[5]
| Enchytraeidae | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Clade: | Sedentaria |
| Class: | Clitellata |
| Order: | Tubificida |
| Superfamily: | Enchytraeoidea |
| Family: | Enchytraeidae Vejdovský, 1879 |
Selected genera
Enchytraeidae genera include:[6]
- 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 Henle, 1837
- Enchytronia Nielsen & Christensen, 1959
- Epitelphusa Drago, 1887
- Fridericia Michaelsen, 1889
- Globulidrilus Christensen & Dózsa-Farkas, 2012
- Grania Southern, 1913
- 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 Eisen, 1878 – ice worms
- Neoenchytraeus Eisen, 1878
- Randidrilus Coates & Erséus, 1985
- Stephensoniella Cernosvitov, 1934
