Clitellata

Clitellata; Temporal range:
	Earthworm
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Annelida
Clade:	Pleistoannelida
Clade:	Sedentaria
Class:	Clitellata
Subclasses
	Branchiobdellae; Hirudinea; "Oligochaeta" (paraphyletic); and see text

The Clitellata are a class of annelid worms, characterized by having a clitellum – the 'collar' that forms a reproductive cocoon during part of their life cycles. The clitellates comprise around 8,000 species. Unlike the class of Polychaeta, they do not have parapodia and their heads are less developed.

^ Manum, S. B.; Bose, M. N.; Sawyer, R. Y. T. (1991). "Clitellate cocoons in freshwater deposits since the Triassic". Zoologica Scripta. 20 (4): 347. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.1991.tb00300.x.

[Manum1991-1] Manum, S. B.; Bose, M. N.; Sawyer, R. Y. T. (1991). "Clitellate cocoons in freshwater deposits since the Triassic". Zoologica Scripta. 20 (4): 347. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.1991.tb00300.x.

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