Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are
enchytraeid
Enchytraeidae is a family of microdrile oligochaeta, oligochaetes. They resemble small earthworms and include both terrestrial species known as potworms that live in highly organic Ecoregion#Terrestrial, terrestrial environments, as well as some ...
annelids
The annelids (Annelida , from Latin ', "little ring"), also known as the segmented worms, are a large phylum, with over 22,000 extant species including ragworms, earthworms, and leeches. The species exist in and have adapted to various ecolo ...
of the
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of
river
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...
ine habitats,
but the best-known members of the genus are found in
glacial
A glacial period (alternatively glacial or glaciation) is an interval of time (thousands of years) within an ice age that is marked by colder temperatures and glacier advances. Interglacials, on the other hand, are periods of warmer climate betw ...
ice. They include the only annelid worms known to spend their entire lives in
glacial
A glacial period (alternatively glacial or glaciation) is an interval of time (thousands of years) within an ice age that is marked by colder temperatures and glacier advances. Interglacials, on the other hand, are periods of warmer climate betw ...
ice, and some of the few
metazoan
Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the biological kingdom Animalia. With few exceptions, animals Heterotroph, consume organic material, Cellular respiration#Aerobic respiration, breathe oxygen, are Motility, able to move, ca ...
s to complete their entire life cycle at conditions below .
They were discovered in a wide range of environments, which include level snowfields, steep avalanche cones, crevasse walls, glacial rivers and pools, and hard glacier ice. These organisms are unique in that they can simply move between tightly packed ice crystals. They utilize setae, which are small bristles found on the outside of their bodies, to grip the ice and pull themselves along.
The genus contains 77
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
, including the North American glacier ice worm (''
Mesenchytraeus solifugus
''Mesenchytraeus solifugus'', commonly called an ice worm, is a species of Oligochaeta, oligochaete worm that inhabits coastal glaciers in northwestern North America. ''M. solifugus'' is dark brown and grows to about 15 mm long and 0.5&nb ...
'') and the Yosemite snow worm (''
Mesenchytraeus gelidus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'').
Ice worms eat snow algae and bacteria. They live at zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), but if temperatures dip even slightly below that, according to a
Washington State University
Washington State University (Washington State, WSU, or informally Wazzu) is a public land-grant research university with its flagship, and oldest, campus in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest land-grant unive ...
researcher, the worms die.
Species
The genus contains 77
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
. They are the following:
*''
Mesenchytraeus affinis
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Michaelsen, 1901
*''
Mesenchytraeus altus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Welch, 1917
*''
Mesenchytraeus americanus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Bell, 1942
*''
Mesenchytraeus anisodiverticulus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Shen, Chen & Xie, 2012
*''
Mesenchytraeus antaeus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Rota & Brinkhurst, 2000
*''
Mesenchytraeus arcticus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Bell, 1962
*''
Mesenchytraeus argentatus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Nurminen, 1973b
*''
Mesenchytraeus armatus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' (Levinsen, 1884)
:*''
Mesenchytraeus armatus armatus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' (Levinsen, 1884)
:*''
Mesenchytraeus armatus kananaskis
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Dash, 1970
*''
Mesenchytraeus asiaticus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus atriaphorus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Altman, 1936
*''
Mesenchytraeus beringensis
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus beumeri
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' (Michaelsen, 1886b)
*''
Mesenchytraeus bungei
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Michaelsen, 1901
*''
Mesenchytraeus cejkai
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Cernosvitov, 1937d
*''
Mesenchytraeus celticus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Southern, 1909
*''
Mesenchytraeus chaunus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Piper, MacLean & Christensen, 1982
*''
Mesenchytraeus chromophorus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Altman, 1936
*''
Mesenchytraeus crenobius
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Timm, 1994
*''
Mesenchytraeus diplobulbosus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Bell, 1949
*''
Mesenchytraeus diverticulatus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Piper, MacLean & Christensen, 1982
*''
Mesenchytraeus eastwoodi
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus eltoni
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Stephenson, 1925
*''
Mesenchytraeus falciformis
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Eisen, 1878
*''
Mesenchytraeus flavidus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Michaelsen, 1887
*''
Mesenchytraeus flavus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' (Levinsen, 1884)
*''
Mesenchytraeus fontinalis
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Eisen, 1904
:*''
Mesenchytraeus fontinalis fontinalis
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Eisen, 1904
:*''
Mesenchytraeus fontinalis gracilis
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus franciscanus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus fuscus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Eisen, 1904
:*''
Mesenchytraeus fuscus fuscus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Eisen, 1904
:*''
Mesenchytraeus fuscus inermis
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus gaudens
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Cognetti, 1903a
*''
Mesenchytraeus gelidus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Welch, 1916
*''
Mesenchytraeus gigachaetus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Xie, 2012
*''
Mesenchytraeus glandulosus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' (Levinsen, 1884)
*''
Mesenchytraeus grandis
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus grebnitzkyi
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Michaelsen, 1901
*''
Mesenchytraeus groenlandicus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Nielsen & Christensen, 1959
*''
Mesenchytraeus hamiltoni
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Healy, 1996b
*''
Mesenchytraeus harrimani
''Mesenchytraeus harrimani'' is an ice worm, named after E. H. Harriman. The worm was first discovered by an insect trapper on board Harriman's famous Arctic expedition, and was given the name by the entomologist Trevor Kincaid. The worm can gro ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus hydrius
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Welch, 1919a
*''
Mesenchytraeus johanseni
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Welch, 1919b
*''
Mesenchytraeus kincaidi
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus kontrimavichusi
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Piper, MacLean & Christensen, 1982
*''
Mesenchytraeus konyamensis
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Michaelsen, 1916
*''
Mesenchytraeus kuehnelti
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Dózsa-Farkas, 1991a
*''
Mesenchytraeus kuril
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Healy & Timm, 2000
*''
Mesenchytraeus lusitanicus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Collado, Martínez-Ansemil, and Giani, 1993
*''
Mesenchytraeus macnabi
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Bell, 1942
*''
Mesenchytraeus maculatus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus magnus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Altman, 1936
*''
Mesenchytraeus melanocephalus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Christensen & Dózsa-Farkas, 1999
*''
Mesenchytraeus minimus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Altman, 1936
*''
Mesenchytraeus mirabilis
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Eisen, 1878
*''
Mesenchytraeus monochaetus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Bretscher, 1900
*''
Mesenchytraeus monodiverticulus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Shen, Chen & Xie, 2012
*''
Mesenchytraeus monothecatus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Bell, 1945
*''
Mesenchytraeus multispinus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' (Grube, 1851)
*''
Mesenchytraeus nanus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus obscurus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus ogloblini
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Černosvitov, 1928b
*''
Mesenchytraeus orcae
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus pedatus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus pelicensis
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Issel, 1905c
*''
Mesenchytraeus penicillus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus primaevus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Eisen, 1878
*''
Mesenchytraeus rhithralis
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Healy & Fend, 2002
*''
Mesenchytraeus sanguineus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Nielsen & Christensen, 1959
*''
Mesenchytraeus setchelli
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus solifugus
''Mesenchytraeus solifugus'', commonly called an ice worm, is a species of Oligochaeta, oligochaete worm that inhabits coastal glaciers in northwestern North America. ''M. solifugus'' is dark brown and grows to about 15 mm long and 0.5&nb ...
'' (Emery, 1898)
:*''
Mesenchytraeus solifugus solifugus
''Mesenchytraeus solifugus'', commonly called an ice worm, is a species of oligochaete worm that inhabits coastal glaciers in northwestern North America. ''M. solifugus'' is dark brown and grows to about 15 mm long and 0.5 mm wide. I ...
'' (Emery, 1898)
:*''
Mesenchytraeus solifugus rainierensis
''Mesenchytraeus solifugus'', commonly called an ice worm, is a species of Oligochaeta, oligochaete worm that inhabits coastal glaciers in northwestern North America. ''M. solifugus'' is dark brown and grows to about 15 mm long and 0.5&nb ...
'' Welch, 1916
*''
Mesenchytraeus straminicolus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Rota, 1995
*''
Mesenchytraeus sveni
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Christensen & Dózsa-Farkas, 1999
*''
Mesenchytraeus svetae
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Piper, MacLean & Christensen, 1982
*''
Mesenchytraeus tetrapodus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Timm, 1978
*''
Mesenchytraeus torbeni
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Christensen & Dózsa-Farkas, 1999
*''
Mesenchytraeus tundrus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Piper, MacLean & Christensen, 1982
*''
Mesenchytraeus unalaskae
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus variabilis
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Cejka, 1914
*''
Mesenchytraeus vegae
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Eisen, 1904
*''
Mesenchytraeus viivi
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
'' Timm, 1978
*''
Mesenchytraeus vshivkovae
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of t ...
'' Timm, 1994
''Mesenchytraeus franzi'' is a
junior synonym
The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently.
* In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linna ...
of ''
Cognettia clarae
''Cognettia'' is a genus of annelids belonging to the family Enchytraeidae.
The genus has almost cosmopolitan distribution.
Species:
* ''Cognettia alsoae'' (Martinsson, Klinth & Erséus, 2018)
* ''Cognettia baekrokdamensis
''Cognettia'' is ...
''.
''Mesenchytraeus megachaetae'' Shen, Chen & Xie, 2011 has been renamed ''Mesenchytraeus gigachaetus'' Xie, 2012 due to the previous name being preoccupied by ''Mesenchytraeus megachaetae'' Bretscher, 1901, a junior synonym of ''
Mesenchytraeus armatus
Ice worms (also written as ice-worms or iceworms) are enchytraeid annelids of the genus ''Mesenchytraeus''. The majority of the species in the genus are abundant in gravel beds or the banks of riverine habitats, but the best-known members of th ...
.''
See also
*
Project Iceworm
Project Iceworm was a top secret United States Army program of the Cold War, which aimed to build a network of mobile nuclear missile launch sites under the Greenland ice sheet. The end goal was to install a vast network of nuclear missile launc ...
References
External links
Seattle Times Article on Iceworms
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ice Worm
Enchytraeidae