- 170 species in North America
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Class: | Oligochaeta |
| Order: | |
| Family: |
Identification Tips:
• Segmented, muscular, elongated, tubular body
• No suckers or eye spots
Life History:
• Most types burrow in soft lake or pond, bottoms but may be found in all habitat types
• Breathe through their skin, and/or by pumping water in and out of the anus
• Some species are bright red (hemoglobin) and tolerate very low oxygen or may live without oxygen for weeks
• Able to regenerate lost or damaged portions of the body
• Activity mixes top layers of sediment in lakes and ponds, aerating it
• Life span ranges from several weeks to several years, depending on species
| POLLUTION TOLERANCE | ||||
| Very Sensitive | Somewhat Sensitive | Facultative | Somewhat Tolerant | Very Tolerant |
| Some | Some | Some | Most | |
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Primary Information Source:
Voshell, J. Reese. 2002. A Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America. McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company. Blacksburg, Virginia.
