Enchytraeidae
| Enchytraeidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Clade: | Sedentaria |
| Class: | Clitellata |
| Order: | Enchytraeida |
| 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] More than 700 species in about 30 genera have been described worldwide, although the true diversity of the family is thought to be much higher.[2] Most species are small, whitish or transparent worms only a few millimetres long that feed on decaying organic matter and the microorganisms colonizing it, making them important contributors to decomposition and nutrient cycling in soils.[3] 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.[4][5] Enchytraeidae also includes the Grindal worm (Enchytraeus buchholzi), which is commercially bred as aquarium fish food.[6] Certain varieties of Enchytraeidae are partially responsible for the notorious "dark earth" archaeological layers in post-Roman Era British urban centers such as London.[7]
Genera
Enchytraeidae contains the following genera:[8]
- Achaeta Vejdovský, 1878
- Aspidodrilus Baylis, 1914
- Barbidrilus Loden & Locy, 1980
- Bryodrilus Ude, 1892
- Buchholzia Michaelsen, 1886
- Cernosvitoviella Nielsen & Christensen, 1959 Genus Christensenidrilus Dózsa-Farkas & Convey, 1998
- Claparedrilus Klinth, Rota & Erséus, 2017
- Cognettia Nielsen & Christensen, 1959
- Decimodrilus Dózsa-Farkas, Nagy, Felföldi & Hong, 2019
- Enchylea Nielsen & Christensen, 1963
- Enchytraeina von Bülow, 1957
- Enchytraeus Henle, 1837
- Enchytronia Nielsen & Christensen, 1959
- Euenchytraeus Bretscher, 1906
- Fridericia Michaelsen, 1889
- Globulidrilus Christensen & Dózsa-Farkas, 2012
- Grania Southern, 1913
- Guaranidrilus Černosvitov, 1937
- Hemienchytraeus Černosvitov, 1934
- Hemifridericia Nielsen & Christensen, 1959
- Henlea Michaelsen, 1889
- Isosetosa Xu, D-M. Zhang & J-M. Jiang, 1989
- Lumbricillus Ørsted, 1844
- Marionina Michaelsen in Pfeffer, 1890
- Mesenchytraeus Eisen, 1878
- Neoenchytraeus Eisen, 1878
- Oconnorella Rota, 1995
- Paralumbricillus Klinth & Rota, 2024 in Klinth et al, 2024
- Pelmatodrilus J.P. Moore, 1943
- Randidrilus Coates & Erséus, 1985
- Sinenchytraeus Liang & Hsü, 1979
- Stephensoniella Cernosvitov, 1934
- Stercutus Michaelsen, 1888
- Tupidrilus Righi, 1974
- Xetadrilus Schmelz, Collado & Römbke, 2011
References
- ↑ Burgers, A. (2012-12-02). Soil Biology. Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-323-14658-6.
- ↑ Schmelz, Rüdiger M.; Collado, Rut (2015). "Checklist of taxa of Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta): an update". Soil Organisms. 87 (2): 149–152.
- ↑ "Edaphobase: Enchytraeidae". Senckenberg Society for Nature Research. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Yule, Brian (September 1990). "The 'dark earth' and late Roman London". Antiquity. 64 (244): 625–626. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00078546. ISSN 0003-598X. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ↑ "Enchytraeidae d'Udekem, 1855". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
- World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) (2008): Enchytraeidae. Version of 2010-MAY-11. Retrieved 2011-FEB-06.