Potworms  and  Allies  -  Order:   Enchytraeida
      Closely related to Earthworms, Potworms are small thread-like worms, usually light beige to white in colour, that share the same habitat as their larger cousins.  Most species do not get much longer than 10 - 15 mm in length and they can be found in the upper few centimeters of the soil, often in vast numbers. Some species are aquatic.
      Generally quite harmless to plants they are often encountered in in the soil of potplants, hence the name.   Worm farms also are often infested with potworms and this does not appear to be doing any harm to the earthworms being farmed.   Potworms live on fungi and bacteria and, like earthworms, are good aerators of the soil.
      There has, over the years, taken place a good amount of wrangling about the position of the Enchytraeida within the Class: Clitellata.   Most recently the Order: Enchytraeida was placed as a suborder of the Tubificida prior to being elevated to the rank of Order during a series of considerable shake-ups within the Class.   According the 'Catalogue of Life' there are currently 798 described Enchytraeid species in 37 genera in 2 families. However, due to a lack of available information it is not possible to ascertain which species from what genera can be found in the Northern Rivers.  It is quite likely that the number of species is low (less than eight *) but, despite that, the number of individuals, staggeringly high.

Family:  Enchytraeidae

      Genus  ?

Taxonomy:

Phylum:   Annelida    (Segmented Worms) 
                    > Class:   Clitellata    (Clitellates)
                              > Subclass:   Oligochaeta    (Earthworms and Allies)
                                                  > Order:   Enchytraeida
                                                                                > Family:    Enchytraeidae   (Potworms)
                                                                                                    > Genus:   ?

References  and  links:
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>      Omodeo, P.,  (1998).   'History of Clitellata.'   Italian Journal of Zoology, 65:1, 51-73,  DOI: 10.1080/11250009809386726
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       https://www.catalogueoflife.org/
       https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/5bc9666e-a9c6-42bd-a191-40e9230df5ee
       http://www.wlgf.org/earthworms.html
​
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