Biology: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 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]
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
- 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
- ↑ Burgers, A. (2012-12-02) (in en). Soil Biology. Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-323-14658-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=8_DPNNEUAikC&dq=enchytraeidae&pg=PA216.
- ↑ 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)" (in en). Canadian Journal of Zoology 83 (9): 1206–1213. doi:10.1139/z05-116. https://cdnsciencepub.com/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. http://www.nrc.ca/cgi-bin/cisti/journals/rp/rp2_abst_e?cjz_z01-143_79_ns_nf_cjz79-01.
- ↑ Bouguenec, V. (1992-03-15). "Oligochaetes (Tubificidae and Enchytraeidae) as food in fish rearing: a review and preliminary tests" (in en). Aquaculture 102 (3): 201–217. doi:10.1016/0044-8486(92)90149-F. ISSN 0044-8486. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0044-8486%2892%2990149-F.
- ↑ Yule, Brian (September 1990). "The ‘dark earth’ and late Roman London" (in en). Antiquity 64 (244): 625–626. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00078546. ISSN 0003-598X. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/dark-earth-and-late-roman-london/E16B7256F56D60F552642B2D9B5B787E. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ↑ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Enchytraeidae d'Udekem, 1855". https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=2038.
- World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) (2008): Enchytraeidae. Version of 2010-MAY-11. Retrieved 2011-FEB-06.
Wikidata ☰ Q656146 entry
 |  |
