Enchytraeidae

Enchytraeidae

Enchytraeidae

Family of annelids

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]

Quick Facts Scientific classification ...

Selected genera

Enchytraeidae genera include:[5]

References

  1. [1]
    Burgers, A. (2012-12-02). Soil Biology. Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-323-14658-6.
  2. [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. [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. [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. [5]
    "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Enchytraeidae d'Udekem, 1855". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2023-03-10.


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