Enchytraeus
Encyclopedia
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 aquarium
enthusiasts. E. buchholzi is known as the Grindal worm. It was named for the Swedish
fish breeder that first raised the worm to feed her fish.
Some species are terrestrial, some semi-aquatic, and others marine
. Some can be found in brackish water
or on beaches. Several of these species lack sex organs and reproduce by fragmenting, notably E. fragmentosus, which gets its name from this characteristic.
Species include:
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
enthusiasts. E. buchholzi is known as the Grindal worm. It was named for the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
fish breeder that first raised the worm to feed her fish.
Some species are terrestrial, some semi-aquatic, and others marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
. Some can be found in brackish water
Brackish water
Brackish water is water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in estuaries, or it may occur in brackish fossil aquifers. The word comes from the Middle Dutch root "brak," meaning "salty"...
or on beaches. Several of these species lack sex organs and reproduce by fragmenting, notably E. fragmentosus, which gets its name from this characteristic.
Species include:
- Enchytraeus albidus White worm
- Enchytraeus buchholzi Grindal worm
- Enchytraeus capitatus
- Enchytraeus citrinus
- Enchytraeus fragmentosus
- Enchytraeus japonensis
- Enchytraeus kincaidi
- Enchytraeus lacteus
- Enchytraeus liefdeensis
- Enchytraeus minutus
- Enchytraeus multiannulatoides
- Enchytraeus multiannulatus
- Enchytraeus rupus
- Enchytraeus saxicola
- Enchytraeus variatus
External links
- White Worm Devrim Memi et al. The Effect of Different Diets on the White Worm (Enchytraeus albidus Henle, 1837)Reproduction, Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 4: 05-07 (2004)