Enchytraeidae

Enchytraeidae
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Annelida
Clade:	Pleistoannelida
Clade:	Sedentaria
Class:	Clitellata
Order:	Tubificida
Superfamily:	Enchytraeoidea
Family:	Enchytraeidae Vejdovský, 1879

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]

Selected genera

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

1. Burgers, A. (2012-12-02). Soil Biology. Elsevier. ISBN   978-0-323-14658-6.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. "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.