Oligochaeta

Oligochaete worms are mounted on slides and identified to species where possible. Otherwise, it's noted if the specimen is immature, unidentifiable (due to being an embryo or some other reason), or a fragment. Some species are identifiable without mounting: Stylodrilus heringianus, Branchiura sowerbyi, Quistadrilus multisetosus, and Spirosperma ferox (Lake Erie only); these, along with fragments, are stored in vials with AGW.

Species list

photomicrograph showing the front end of a worm with sets of two chaetae in each bundle

Family Lumbriculidae

Photomicrograph of a slide mounted worm. The head has an eyespot and a proboscis. The first 4 segments have ventral chaetae but not dorsal chaetae.

Family Naididae, Subfamily Naidinae

Photomicrograph of a slide mounted worm with evenly spaced bundles of chaetae. Dorsal bundles have short hairs and rounded bifid chaetae, while ventral bundles have just rounded bifid chaetae.

Family Naididae, Subfamily Tubificinae

Photomicrograph of a slide mounted worm with evenly spaced bundles of chaetae. All chaetae are simple and straight.

Family Enchytraeidae