Acanthodrilidae | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Annelida |
Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
Clade: | Sedentaria |
Class: | Clitellata |
Order: | Opisthopora |
Suborder: | Lumbricina |
Family: | Acanthodrilidae Claus, 1880 |
Genera | |
See text |
The Acanthodrilidae are an ancient and widely distributed family of earthworms which has native representatives in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South America, and North America. No native species are known from India (cf. Octochaetidae) nor Asia. The family possibly shows a pre-Pangaean distribution.
Membership requires an 'acanthodriline' arrangement of male pores and holoic nephridia.