Megascolecidae

Megascolecidae
	Megascolecidae found in Sai Kung West Country Park, Hong Kong belonging to genus Amynthas
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Annelida
Clade:	Pleistoannelida
Clade:	Sedentaria
Class:	Clitellata
Order:	Opisthopora
Suborder:	Crassiclitellata
Family:	Megascolecidae; Rosa, 1891
Genera
	Over 65, see text

Megascolecidae is a family of earthworms native to Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and North America. All species of the Megascolecidae belong to the Clitellata class.^[2] The Megascolecidae comprise a large family of earthworms^[3] and they can grow up to 2 meters in length.^[4] The intercontinental distribution of Megascolecidae species favours the continental drift theory.^[5]

Their large size distinguishes the Megascolecidae from other earthworm families; they are an essential part of maintaining soil structure, minor carbon sequestration, and maintaining terrestrial ecosystem balance. The Megascolecidae are one of many families in the Annelida phylum. They live in a terrestrial environment and have a preference for soil with high biomass content, high humidity, and warm temperature. Many different genera of the Megascolecidae have been described, but the total number of species is still unsettled.

^ Rosa, D. (1891). "Die exotischen terricolen des k. k. naturhistorischen Hofmuseums". Annalen des K.K. Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums. 6: 379–406.
^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Megascolecidae Rosa, 1891". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
^ "The geographic distribution of the genera in the Pheretima complex (Megascolecidae) in eastern Asia and the Pacific region (English translation)". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
^ Fahri, Fahri; Amaliah, Rizki; Suryobroto, Bambang; Atmowidi, Tri; Nguyen, Anh D. (2018-12-11). "Three new "caecate" earthworm species from Sulawesi, Indonesia (Oligochaeta, Megascolecidae)". ZooKeys (805): 1–14. doi:10.3897/zookeys.805.24834. PMC 6299058. PMID 30584390.
^ Reynolds, J.W. 1995. The distribution of earthworms (Annelida, Oligochaeta) in North America. Pp. 133- 153 In: Mishra, P.C., N. Behera, B.K. Senapati and B.C. Guru (eds.). Advances in Ecology and Environmental Sciences. New Delhi: Ashish Publishing House, 651 pp.

[1] Rosa, D. (1891). "Die exotischen terricolen des k. k. naturhistorischen Hofmuseums". Annalen des K.K. Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums. 6: 379–406.

[2] "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Megascolecidae Rosa, 1891". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2021-05-20.

[3] "The geographic distribution of the genera in the Pheretima complex (Megascolecidae) in eastern Asia and the Pacific region (English translation)". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-05-20.

[Fahri_1–14-4] Fahri, Fahri; Amaliah, Rizki; Suryobroto, Bambang; Atmowidi, Tri; Nguyen, Anh D. (2018-12-11). "Three new "caecate" earthworm species from Sulawesi, Indonesia (Oligochaeta, Megascolecidae)". ZooKeys (805): 1–14. doi:10.3897/zookeys.805.24834. PMC 6299058. PMID 30584390.

[Reynolds,_J.W_1995._Pp._133-_153-5] Reynolds, J.W. 1995. The distribution of earthworms (Annelida, Oligochaeta) in North America. Pp. 133- 153 In: Mishra, P.C., N. Behera, B.K. Senapati and B.C. Guru (eds.). Advances in Ecology and Environmental Sciences. New Delhi: Ashish Publishing House, 651 pp.

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