| Enchytraeidae | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| 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.23 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 Henle, 1837
- Enchytronia Nielsen & Christensen, 1959
- Epitelphusa Drago, 1887
- Fridericia Michaelsen, 1889
- Globulidrilus Christensen & Dózsa-Farkas, 2012
- Grania Southern, 1913
- 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 Eisen, 1878 – ice worms
- Neoenchytraeus Eisen, 1878
- Randidrilus Coates & Erséus, 1985
- Stephensoniella Cernosvitov, 1934
References
References
- Burgers, A. (2012-12-02). Soil Biology. Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-323-14658-6.
- 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.
- "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.