 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2008) |
| Eudrilidae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Clade: | Pleistoannelida |
| Clade: | Sedentaria |
| Class: | Clitellata |
| Order: | Opisthopora |
| Suborder: | Lumbricina |
| Family: | Eudrilidae Claus, 1880 |
The Eudrilidae are a family of earthworms, mostly of Africa. One species, Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg, 1867), is widely distributed around the warmer parts of the world and historically cultured as the "African nightcrawler".[1][2]
The male pores of eudrilids are in segment 17, as is also typical of Ocnerodrilidae. Eudrilids differ from the family Megascolecidae and Acanthodrilidae in having euprostates, i.e., a muscular and possibly glandular development of the vasa deferentia (male ducts from testes) that open to the male pores. Eudrilids further differ from megascolecids, and ocnerodrilids in the development of internal fertilisation with the equivalent of the spermathecae opening directly to the ovisacs, allowing sperm to combine with the eggs from the ovaries via a female opening in segment 14.
- ^ Rob Blakemore (2008). "Vermicology I. Ecological considerations of the earthworms used in vermiculture – a review of the species" (PDF). A Series of Searchable Texts on Earthworm Biodiversity, Ecology and Systematics from Various Regions of the World. VermEcology.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Blakemore (2015). - http://africaninvertebrates.org/ojs/index.php/AI/article/view/395