Earthworms - Order: Crassiclitellata
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With about 6,000 species in twenty families (nine in two suborders and eleven unplaced) earthworms are a surprisingly large group of animals that are found on all continents except Antarctica. Australia can boast of about 1000 endemic species from three familes and 80 introduced species. For the Northern Rivers 17 species are listed below but, this list is by no means to be considered complete. It is highly likely - presumed even - that earthworm diversity in the Northern Rivers is much greater than the list would suggest. However, earthworms tend to be taken for granted and as a result, few people actively seek them out which means records are not all that plentiful.
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The lack of public interest in earthworms is not at all indicative of the critically important role they play as soil cultivators. Sir Charles Darwin was absolutely correct when he extolled the earthworms' virtues for their role in soil improvement and farm production. Only in the past 40 years or so has science caught on and 'vermiculture' - the cultivativation of worms for the purpose of producing vermicompost - is now a sizeable industry. And rightly so, worms, by moving through the soil, de-compact and aerate it. In healthy soil they occur in vast numbers consuming organic waste as they go and depositing large amounts of droppings (an organic fertilizer) on the surface.
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Identification of earthworms is not at all a straightforward task as it often requires examination of the genitals and, sometimes the counting of segments, to distinguish one species from another. Many species are similarly coloured and of comparable size. It is however helpful to consider that many species are bound to certain localities and this may facilitate identification by eliminating options.
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Unplaced Family: Ocnerodrilidae
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Eukerria saltensis (likely occurrence)
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Suborder: Lumbricina
Family: Acanthodrilidae (possible occurrence)
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Genus ?
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Family: Eudrilidae
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African Night Crawler - Eudrilus eugeniae (likely occurrence)
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Family: Lumbricidae
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Rosy-tipped Worm - Aporrectodea rosea (possible occurrence)
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Southern Worm - Aporrectodea trapezoides
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American Barkworm - Bimastos parvus (possible occurrence)
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Eisenia andrei (likely occurrence)
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Compost Worm - Eisenia fetida (likely occurrence)
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Red Marsh Worm - Lumbricus rubellus
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Common Earthworm - Lumbricus terrestris
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Blue-grey Worm - Octolasion cyaneum
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Suborder: Megascolecida
Family: Megascolecidae
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Green Jumping Worm - Amynthas corticis
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Thin Jumping Worm - Amynthas gracilis
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Didymogaster sp.
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Digaster longmani
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Diprochaeta sp. (possible occurrence)
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Fletcherodrilus unicus
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Pontodrilus litoralis
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Taxonomy:
Phylum: Annelida (Segmented Worms)
> Class: Clitellata (Clitellates)
> Subclass: Oligochaeta (Earthworms and Allies)
> Order: Crassiclitellata
> Family: Ocnerodrilidae
> Genus: Eukerria *
> Species: E. saltensis *
> Suborder: Lumbricina
> Family: Acanthodrilidae (Bristly Earthworms) ^
> Genus: ?
> Family: Eudrilidae
> Genus: Eudrilus
> Species: E. eugeniae - African Night Crawler *
> Family: Lumbricidae (Earthworms)
> Genus: Aporrectodea
> Species: A. rosea - Rosy-tipped Worm ^
> Species: A. trapezoides - Southern Worm
> Genus: Bimastos
> Species: B. parvus - American Barkworm ^
> Genus: Eisenia * (Wrigglers)
> Species: E. andrei
> Species: E. fetida - Compost Worm
> Genus: Lumbricus
> Species: L. rubellus - Red Marsh Worm
> Species: L. terrestris - Common Earthworm
> Genus: Octolasion (Field Worms)
> Species: O. cyaneum - Blue-grey Worm
> Suborder: Megascolecida (Giant Earthworms)
> Family: Megascolecidae
> Genus: Amynthas (Snake Earthworms)
> Species: A, corticis - Green Jumping Worm
> Species: A. gracilis - Thin Jumping Worm
> Genus: Didymogaster
> Species: ?
> Genus: Digaster
> Species: D. longmani
> Genus: Diprochaeta ^
> Species: ?
> Genus: Fletcherodrilus
> Species: F. unicus
> Genus: Pontodrilus
> Species: P. litoralis
* = likely
^ = possibly
References and links:
> Darwin, C., (1881). 'The Formation of Vegetable Mould, through the Actions of Worms, with Observations on their Habits.' D. Appleton & Co., New York.
> Staggs, H., (2021). 'Vermiculture: A Viable Solution for Sustainable Agriculture.' Integrated Studies. 328. https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/bis437/328
https://australian.museum/learn/animals/worms/australian-earthworms/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermicompost
> Darwin, C., (1881). 'The Formation of Vegetable Mould, through the Actions of Worms, with Observations on their Habits.' D. Appleton & Co., New York.
> Staggs, H., (2021). 'Vermiculture: A Viable Solution for Sustainable Agriculture.' Integrated Studies. 328. https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/bis437/328
https://australian.museum/learn/animals/worms/australian-earthworms/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermicompost
Photographic contributions:
Beringen, Erik. C 2388.
Beringen, Erik. C 2388.