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 Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military * ...

. The peculiar genus ''

Mesenchytraeus Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...

'' is known as "ice worms", as they live in glaciers and will die if exposed to temperatures a few degrees above freezing. Apart from these, the best-known species is probably the

Grindal Worm ''Enchytraeus buchholzi'', Grindal worms, (described by František Vejdovsky in 1879) are enchytraeid oligochaete worms. They are found in temperate meadows and disturbed roadside verges. The scientific name probably covers a group of morpholo ...

(''Enchytraeus buchholzi''), which is commercially bred as

aquarium An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ...

fish food.

Selected genera

Enchytraeidae

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

include:WoRMS (2010) * ''Achaeta'' Vejdovský, 1878 * '' Archienchytraeus'' Eisen, 1878 (''

nomen dubium In binomial nomenclature, a ''nomen dubium'' (Latin for "doubtful name", plural ''nomina dubia'') is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application. Zoology In case of a ''nomen dubium'' it may be impossible to determine whether a s ...

'') * ''

Cernosvitoviella ''Cernosvitoviella'' is a genus of annelids belonging to the family Enchytraeidae Enchytraeidae is a family of microdrile oligochaetes. They resemble small earthworms and include both terrestrial species known as potworms that live in highl ...

'' Nielsen & Christensen, 1959 * ''

Christensenidrilus ''Christensenidrilus'' is a genus of annelids belonging to the family Enchytraeidae. Species: * ''Christensenidrilus blocki'' (Dózsa-Farkas & Convey, 1997) References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18519106 Annelids ...

'' Dózsa-Farkas & Convey, 1998 (= ''Christensenia'' Dózsa-Farkas & Convey, 1997 (''non'' Brinck 1945:

preoccupied The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently. * In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linn ...

)) * ''

Cognettia ''Cognettia'' is a genus of annelids belonging to the family Enchytraeidae Enchytraeidae is a family of microdrile oligochaetes. They resemble small earthworms and include both terrestrial species known as potworms that live in highly organ ...

'' Nielsen & Christensen, 1959 * '' Enchytraeina'' Bülow, 1957 * ''

Enchytraeus The genus ''Enchytraeus'' includes about 40 species of annelid worms. The term white worm is often used for all of the species in general, but specifically it is ''E. albidus'' which is named the white worm. This species is used as fish food by ...

'' * '' Epitelphusa'' Drago, 1887 * '' Fridericia'' Michaelsen, 1889 *''

Globulidrilus ''Globulidrilus'' is a genus of annelids belonging to the family Enchytraeidae Enchytraeidae is a family of microdrile oligochaetes. They resemble small earthworms and include both terrestrial species known as potworms that live in highly o ...

'' Christensen & Dózsa-Farkas, 2012 * ''

Grania ''Grania'' is a genus of marine annelid worms in the class Clitellata. They are found at many depths in sands throughout the world. They are generally about in length and mostly colorless or white, though ''Grania colorata'', a recently discov ...

'' * ''

Hemifridericia ''Hemifridericia'' is a genus of annelids belonging to the family Enchytraeidae. The species of this genus are found in Eurasia and Northern America. Species: * ''Hemifridericia bivesiculata'' Christensen & Dózsa-Farkas, 2006 * ''Hemifriderici ...

'' Nielsen & Christensen, 1949 * ''

Henlea ''Henlea'' is a genus of annelids belonging to the family Enchytraeidae Enchytraeidae is a family of microdrile oligochaetes. They resemble small earthworms and include both terrestrial species known as potworms that live in highly organic ...

'' Michaelsen, 1889 (= ''Henleanella'') * ''

Lumbricillus ''Lumbricillus'' is a genus of annelids belonging to the family Enchytraeidae Enchytraeidae is a family of microdrile oligochaetes. They resemble small earthworms and include both terrestrial species known as potworms that live in highly or ...

'' Ørsted, 1844 (= ''Enchytraeoides, Pachydrilus'') * ''

Marionina ''Marionina'' is a genus of annelids belonging to the family Enchytraeidae Enchytraeidae is a family of microdrile oligochaetes. They resemble small earthworms and include both terrestrial species known as potworms that live in highly organ ...

'' Michaelsen in Pfeffer, 1890 (= ''Marionia'' Michaelsen, 1889 (''non'' Vayssière, 1877:

), ''Michaelsena, Parenchytraeus'') * ''

'' – ice worms * '' Neoenchytraeus'' Eisen, 1878 * '' Randidrilus'' Coates & Erséus, 1985 * '' Stephensoniella'' Cernosvitov, 1934

Footnotes

References

* (2008)
Enchytraeidae
Version of 2010-MAY-11. Retrieved 2011-FEB-06. Tubificina {{Annelid-stub