This web site initially established and currently maintained by

Mark J. Wetzel, Research Scientist
- Curator, Collections Manager, and Database Manager, INHS Annelida Collection
Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability (INRS)
at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois USA

To date, 37 species of terrestrial oligochaetes (16 genera, six families) have been reported from Illinois; of these, 15 species (nine genera, two families) are considered to be introductions (Reynolds and Wetzel 2004, 2008). Several native and introduced species reported from adjacent states likely occur in Illinois, but have yet been documented. Three species present in Illinois, to date, have been collected only from greenhouses or other indoor cultures (Reynolds and Wetzel 2004, 2008).

Many genera and species in the family Enchytraeidae (microdrile oligochaetes) are commonly collected from terrestrial habitats as well as from freshwater systems (streams, springs, seeps, ponds, lakes) as well as from moist and muddy (limicolous) habitats.

Several primarily terrestrial oligochaetes (e.g., Eisenia foetida and Eiseniella tetraedra - both in the Family Lumbricidae) have occasionally been collected from aquatic habitats. Species in the Family Sparganophilidae are considered limicolous, or mud-loving - commonly collected from substrates and riparian margins of streams, ponds, marshes, bogs, wetlands, and occasionally from lakes and ponds.

Historical works focusing on one or more aspects of terrestrial oligochaetes in Illinois include those by Forbes (1890a,b), Garman (1888, 1890), the numerous studies of Smith (1895a,b, 1896, 1900a,b, 1912, 1917, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1928), and those of Smith and Gittens (1915), Smith and Welch (1913), Welch (1914), and Harman (1960). More recently, Zaborski and Gittenger (2001) published a paper on worm circling in Amynthas hupeiensis (family Megascolecidae).

Pertinent references for the study of terrestrial Oligochaeta include Dindal (1990), Fend (2000, 2006), Fender (1985, 1994), Fender and McKey-Fender (1990), James (1990, 1994), Reynolds (1977a,b; 1978, 1980, 1994, 1995a,b,c; 2001), Reynolds and Reynolds (1992), Reynolds et al. (1974), Edwards (1998, 2004), and Reynolds and Wetzel (2004, 2008 - which include extensive bibliographies on terrestrial oligochaetes in North America].

Other annelids in Illinois. Wetzel (1992) published the first comprehensive review of aquatic Annelida in Illinois, documenting the occurrence of 130 species of aquatic worms representing 71 genera in 15 families for the state. Included in that list were several species that occur in terrestrial as well as limicolous and semi-aquatic habitats in Illinois; those species are also included in the list below. Unfortunately, no substantive publication has specifically addressed the earthworms occurring in this state for 50 years -- since that of Dr. Walter Harman in the late 1950s (Harman 1960). In addition to terrestrial oligochaetes, one semi-terrestrial leech - Haemopis terrestris (Forbes, 1890) (Hirudinea, Haemopidae) - also occurs in Illinois.

The list presented below has been compiled from records that have been published in the historical or recent scientific literature. Of note here are the species from the Walter J. Harman Terrestrial Annelida Collection, graciously donated to the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) Annelida Collection in Champaign by Dr. Harman in the late 1980s. Dr. Harman's PhD dissertation (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1960) focused on the terrestrial oligochaetes in central Illinois. A short obituary for Dr. Harman is presented HERE; a more extensive obituary, including a list of Dr. Harman's publications, was presented in Wetzel (2006: Hydrobiologia vol. 564; full citation below).

The list below also accounts for recent nomenclatural and systematic changes. Many recent works discussing the phylogeny of aquatic Annelida also have been included in the section on classification below [but this section needs updating]. References noted in the text of this document are included in the 'Literature Cited' section which follows the checklist of species.

Classification of Annelida. Several classifications for the phylum Annelida have been proposed over the last 30+ years. The reader is directed to Jamieson (1978, 1980, 1988), Timm (1981), Brinkhurst (1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991a, 1991b, 1991c, 1992, 1994), Kasprzak (1982, 1984), Kathman and Brinkhurst (1998), Parker (1982), Holt (1986, 1989), Erséus (1987, 1990), Sawyer (1986a, 1986b, 1986c), Brinkhurst and Nemec (1987), Coates (1987, 1989), Nemec and Brinkhurst (1987), Brinkhurst and Gelder (1989), Martin et al. (2000), Gelder and Brinkhurst (2001),Purschke et al. (1993), Erséus (2005), Envall et al. (2006), and Govedich et al. (2010) [plus other more recent publications to be included here soon] for further discussion on the phylogenetic relationships of the annelid groups. Note that many more recently published papers focus on the phylogentetic relationships of annelids; these citations will be added here soon.

Nomenclature follows Reynolds and Cook (1976, 1981, 1989, 1993). Nomenclatura Oligochaetologica: Supplementum Quartum - the fourth supplement to the Reynolds and Cook series, currently is being compiled by John W. Reynolds and Mark J. Wetzel; we anticipate its publication in late 2010.

Species preceeded by '#' represent collection records from greenhouses or other indoor cultures only; they have yet to be found occurring in 'nature' in Illinois.

Species followed by an ' I ' are considered introduced in North America.

Genus Fridericia Michaelsen, 1889

Fridericia agilis Smith, 1895
Fridericia firma Smith & Welch, 1913
Fridericia oconeensis Welch, 1914
Fridericia ratzeli (Eisén, 1904)

[ = Fridericia sima Welch, 1914, a junior synonym; see Schmelz, 2003]
Fridericia tenera Smith & Welch, 1913

Genus Henlea Michaelsen, 1889

Henlea ochracea (Eisén, 1878)
Henlea urbanensis Welch, 1914
Henlea welchi Bell, 1942

Genus Marionina Pfeffer, 1890

Marionina dirksi Bell, 1942

Genus Mesenchytraeus Eisén, 1878

Mesenchytraeus americanus Bell, 1942

Family Glossoscolecidae

Genus Pontoscolex Schmarda 1861

# Pontoscolex corethrurus (Müller, 1856) - I

Genus Komarekiona Gates, 1974

Komarekiona eatoni Gates, 1974

Family Lumbricidae

Genus Allolobophora Eisen, 1873

Allolobophora chlorotica (Savigny, 1826) - I

Genus Aporrectodea Örley, 1885

Aporrectodea rosea (Savigny, 1826) - I
Aporrectodea trapezoides (Dugès, 1828) - I
Aporrectodea tuberculata (Eisen, 1874) - I
Aporrectodea turgida (Eisen, 1873) - I

Genus Bimastos H. F. Moore, 1893

Bimastos beddardi (Michaelsen, 1891)
Bimastos gieseleri (Ude, 1895)
Bimastos heimburgeri (Smith, 1928)
Bimastos longicinctus (Smith & Gittens, 1915)
Bimastos parvus (Eisen, 1874)
Bimastos tumidus (Eisen, 1874)
Bimastos zeteki (Smith & Gittens, 1915)

Genus Dendrobaena Eisen, 1873

Dendrobaena octaedra (Savigny, 1826) - I

Genus Dendrodrilus Omodeo, 1956

Dendrodrilus rubidus (Savigny, 1826) - I

Genus Eisenia Malm, 1877

Eisenia foetida Savigny, 1826 - I
Eisenia hortensis (Michaelsen, 1890) - I

Genus Eiseniella Michaelsen, 1900

Eiseniella tetraedra (Savigny, 1826 - I

Genus Eisenoides Gates, 1969

Eisenoides carolinensis (Michaelsen, 1910)

Genus Lumbricus Linnaeus, 1758

Lumbricus rubellus Hoffmiester, 1843 - I
Lumbricus terrestris Linnaeus, 1758 - I

Genus Octolasion Örley, 1885

Octolasion tyrtaeum (Savigny, 1826) - I

Genus Diplocardia Garman, 1888

Diplocardia caroliniana Eisen, 1898
Diplocardia communis Garman, 1888
Diplocardia conoyeri Murchie, 1961 - type locality in Illinois
Diplocardia ornata Gates, 1943
Diplocardia riparia Smith, 1895

[= Diplocardia prosenteris Macnab & McKey-Fender, 1955]

Diplocardia singularis (Ude, 1893)
Diplocardia smithi Macnab & McKey-Fender, 1955
Diplocardia udei Eisen, 1899
Diplocardia verrucosa Ude, 1895

Genus Microscolex Rosa, 1887

Microscolex phosphoreus (Dugès, 1837) - I

[= Microscolex hempeli Smith, 1896]

Family Megascolecidae

Genus Amynthas Kinberg, 1867

# Amynthas diffringens (Baird, 1869) - I
# Amynthas hawayanus (Rosa, 1891) - I
Amynthas hupeiensis (Michaelsen, 1895) - I
>> first reported in Illinois by Zaborski and Gittenger (2001)

Family Spargonophilidae

Genus Sparganophilus Benham, 1892

Sparganophilus eiseni Smith, 1895

LITERATURE CITED and PERTINENT REFERENCES [incomplete at this time]

Brinkhurst, R.O. 1982. Evolution in the Annelida. Can. J. Zool. 60(5): 1043-1059.

Brinkhurst, R.O. 1986. Guide to the freshwater aquatic microdrile oligochaetes of North America. Can. Spec. Publ. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 84. vi + 259 pp.

Brinkhurst, R.O. 1991a. Ancestors. Mitt. Hamburg Mus. Inst. 88(1): 97-110.

Brinkhurst, R.O. 1992. Evolutionary relationships within the Clitellata. Soil. Biol. Biochem. 24(12): 1202-1205.

Brinkhurst, R.O. 1994. Evolutionary relationships within the Clitellata: an update. Megadrilogica 5(10: 109-112.

Brinkhurst, R.O., and A.F.L. Nemec. 1987. A comparison of phenetic and phylogenetic methods applied to the systematics of Oligochaeta. Hydrobiologia 155: 65-74.

Brinkhurst, R.O., and S.R. Gelder. 2001. Annelida: Oligochaeta, including Branchiobdellidae. Pages 431-463, In: J.H. Thorp and A.P. Covich (eds). Ecology and classification of North American freshwater invertebrates. Second Edition. Academic Press, San Diego, CA [superseded by Govedich et al. 2010, citation below].

Coates, K.A. 1989. Phylogeny and origins of Enchytraeidae. Hydrobiologia 180: 17-33.

Dindal, D.L., editor. 1990. Soil biology guide. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. xviii 1349 pages.

Erséus, C. 1987. Phylogenetic analysis of the aquatic Oligochaeta under the principle of parsimony. Hydrobiologia 155: 75-89.

Erséus, C. 2005. Phylogeny of oligochaetous Clitellata. Hydrobiologia 535: 357-372. Edwards, C.A. Editor. 1998. Earthworm ecology. St. Lucie Press [CRC Press LLC], Boca Raton, FL. vi + 389.

Edwards, C.A. Editor. 2004. Earthworm ecology, Second Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL. 441 pp. Envall, I., M. Kállersjó, and C. Erséus. 2006. Molecular evidence for the non-monophyletic status of Naidinae (Annelida, Clitellata, Tubificidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 40: 570-584.

Fend, S.V. 2010. Megadrile Oligochaeta. Pp. 149-166, In: Wetzel, M.J., S.V. Fend, K.A. Coates, R.D. Kathman, and S.R. Gelder. 2010. (full citation, below).

Fender, W. M. 1985. Earthworms of the western United States. I. Lumbricidae. Megadrilogica 4: 93-129.

Fender, W. M. 1994. Native earthworms of the Pacific Northwest: an ecological overview. in P. F. Hendrix, editor. Ecology and biogeography of earthworms in North America. Lewis Publishing, Boca Raton, Florida.

Fender, W. M., and McKey-Fender, D. 1990. Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae and other earthworms from western North America. Pages 357-378, in D. L. Dindal, editor. Soil biology guide. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.

Garman, H. 1888. On the anatomy and histology of a new earthworm (Diplocardia communis, gen. et sp. nov.). Bulletin of the Illinois State Laboratory of Natural History 3: 47-77.

Govedich, F.R., B.A. Bain, W.E. Moser, S.R. Gelder, R.W. Davies, and R.O. Brinkhurst. 2010. Annelida (Clitellata) Oligochaeta, Branchiobdellida, Hirudinida, and Acanthobdellida. Pages 385-436, In: J.H. Thorp and A.P. Covich (eds). Ecology and classification of North American freshwater invertebrates. Third Edition xiv + 1,021 pp. Academic Press / Elsevier, San Diego, CA. ISBN 978-0-12-374855-3. [www.elsevier.com] USD$ 139.95 / 93.95 Euro.

Harman, W.J. 1960. Studies on the taxonomy and musculature of the earthworms of central Illinois. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. unpublished Ph.D. thesis. v + 107 pp. [UIUC Library Cat. No. 595.16 H227s]

Holt, P.C. 1989. Comments on the classification of the Clitellata. Hydrobiologia 180: 1-5.

James, S.W. 1990. Diplocardia kansensis, a new earthworm from Kansas, with redescriptions of Diplocardia riparia Smith and D. fuscula Gates (Annelida: Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 103:179-186.

James, S.W. 1990. Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae and other earthworms from southern and midwestern North America. Pages 379-386, in D. L. Dindal, editor. Soil biology guide. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.

James, S. W. 1994. Systematics, biogeography and ecology of earthworms from eastern, central, southern and southwestern USA. Pages 29-51, in P. F. Hendrix, editor. Ecology and biogeography of earthworms in North America. Lewis Publishing, Boca Raton, Florida.

Jamieson, B.G.M. 1978. Phylogenetic and phenetic systematics of the opisthoporous Oligochaeta (Annelida: Clitellata). Evol. Theor. 3(4): 195-233.

Jamieson, B.G.M. 1980. Preliminary discussion of an Hennigian analysis of the phylogeny and systematics of opisthoporous oligochaetes. Rev. Ecol. Biol. Sol 17(2): 261-275.

Jamieson, B.G.M. 1988. On the phylogeny and higher classification of the Oligochaeta. Cladistics 4: 367-410.

Kasprzak, K. 1982. Problems of the origin of oligochaetes (Annelida: Oligochaeta). Prezgl. Zool. 26: 145-160. (English translation, Can. Transl. Fish. Aquat. Sci. No. 4996).

Kasprzak, K. 1984. The previous and contemporary conceptions on phylogeny and systematic classifications of Oligochaeta (Annelida). Ann. Zool. (Polska Akad. Nauk Inst. Zool.) 38: 205-223.

Martin, P., I. Kaygorodova, D. Yu. Sherbakov, and E. Verheyen. 2000. Rapidly evolving lineages impede the resolution of phylogenetic relationships among Clitellata (Annelida). Mol. Phyl. Evol. 15: 355-368.

Minnich, J. 1977. The earthworm book. Rodale Press, Emmaus, PA. xii + 372 pp.

Parker, S.P. 1982. Synopsis and classification of living organisms. McGraw Hill, New York. 1,232 pp.

Peck, S.B., and J.L. Lewis. 1978. Zoogeography and evolution of the subterranean invertebrate faunas of Illinois and southeastern Missouri. National Speleological Society Bulletin 40(2): 39-63.

Reynolds, J.W. 1977a. The earthworms of Tennessee (Oligochaeta). III. Komarekionidae, with notes on distribution and biology. Megadrilogica 3: 65-69.

Reynolds, J.W. 1977b. The earthworms (Lumbricidae and Sparganophilidae) of Ontario. Life Sciences Miscellaneous Publications, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ix + 141 pp.

Reynolds, J.W. 1978. The earthworms of Tennessee (Oligochaeta). IV. Megascolecidae, with notes on distribution, biology and a key to the species in the state. Megadrilogica 3: 117-129.

Reynolds, J.W. 1980. The earthworm family Sparganophilidae (Annelida, Oligochaeta) in North America. Megadrilogica 3: 189-204.

Reynolds, J. W. 1994. The status of exotic earthworm systematics and biogeography in North America. Pages 1-27, in P. F. Hendrix, editor. Ecology and biogeography of earthworms in North America. Lewis Publishing, Boca Raton, Florida.

Reynolds, J.W. 1995a. The distribution of earthworms (Annelida, Oligochaeta) in North America. Pages 133-153, in P.C. Mishra, N. Behera, B.K. Senapati, and B.C. Guru, (editors). Advances in Ecology and Environmental Sciences. Ashish Publishing House, New Delhi. 651 pp.

Reynolds, J.W. 1995b. Earthworms of the world. Global Biodiversity 4(1): 11-16.

Reynolds, J.W. 1995c. The status of exotic earthworm systematics and biogeography in North America. Pp. 1-17, In P.F. Hendrix, Editor. Ecology and biogeography fo earthworms in North America. Lewis Publ., Boca Raton, FL. 244 pp.

Reynolds, J.W. 2001. Sparganophilidae -- are terrestrial oligochaetologists missing the habitat in North America? Megadrilogica 8(11): 82-84.

Reynolds, J.W. 2008. The earthworm family Sparganophilidae (Annelida: Oligochaeta) in North America, revisited. Megadrilogica 12(9): 125-143.

Reynolds, J.W., and D.G. Cook. 1976. Nomenclatura oligochaetologica. A catalogue of names, descriptions and type specimens of the Oligochaeta. Univ. New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick. x + 217 pp. [This catalog, and the first supplement, cited below, are out of print; the second and third supplements, also cited below, are available, at no charge, from the New Brunswick Museum, 277 Douglas Avenue, Saint John, NB, Canada E2K 1E5.].

Reynolds, J.W., and D.G. Cook. 1981. Nomenclatura oligochaetologica. Supplementum primum. A catalogue of names, descriptions and type specimens of the Oligochaeta. [published by the University of New Brunswick] Fredericton, New Brunswick. v + 39 pp. [out of print].

Reynolds, J.W., and D.G. Cook. 1989. Nomenclatura oligochaetologica. Supplementum secundum. A catalogue of names, descriptions and type specimens of the Oligochaeta. New Brunswick Mus. Monogr. Ser. (Nat. Sci.) No. 8. v + 37 pp. [this second supplement is available, at no charge, from the New Brunswick Museum, 277 Douglas Avenue, Saint John, NB, Canada E2K 1E5.].

Reynolds, J.W., and D.G. Cook. 1993. Nomenclatura oligochaetologica. Supplementum tertium. A catalogue of names, descriptions and type specimens of the Oligochaeta. New Brunswick Mus. Monogr. Ser. (Nat. Sci.) No. 9. vi + 33 pp. [this third supplement is available, at no charge, from the New Brunswick Museum, 277 Douglas Avenue, Saint John, NB, Canada E2K 1E5.].

Reynolds, J.W., and K.W. Reynolds. 1992. Les vers de terre (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae et Sparganophilidae) sur la rive nord du Saint-Laurent (QuŽbec). Megadrilogica 4: 145-161.

Reynolds, J.W., E.E.C. Clebsch, and W.M. Reynolds. 1974. The earthworms of Tennessee (Oligochaeta). I. Lumbricidae. Continental North American Earthworms (Oligochaeta), no. 13. Bulletin of the Tall Timbers Research Station 17: 1-133.

Reynolds, J.W., and M.J. Wetzel. 2004. Terrestrial Oligochaeta (Annelida: Clitellata) in North America north of Mexico. Megadrilogica 9(11): 71-98.

Reynolds, J.W., and M.J. Wetzel. 2008. Terrestrial Oligochaeta (Annelida: Clitellata) in North America, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Bermuda. Megadrilogica 12(12): 167-208.

Reynolds, J.W., and M.J. Wetzel. Nomenclatura oligochaetologica. Supplementum quartum. A catalogue of names, descriptions and type specimens of the Oligochaeta. In prep.

Schmelz, R.M. 2003. Taxonomy of Fridericia (Oligochaetaa, Enchytraeidae). Revision of species with morphological and biochemical methods. Abhandlungen des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins in Hamburg (NF) 38. Goecke & Evers / Keltern-Weiler, D-75210 Keltern-Weiler, Germany. 415 pp. + 73 figs.

Sims, R.W., and E.G. Easton. 1972. A numerical revision of the earthworm genus Pheretima auct. (Megascolecidae: Oligochaeta) with the recognition of new genera and an appendix on the earthworms collected by the Royal Society North Borneo Expedition. Biological Journal of the Linnaean Society 4(3): 169-268, with 4 figures.

Timm, T. 1981. On the origin and evolution of aquatic Oligochaeta. Eesti NSV Tead. Akad. Toim. Biologia 30(3): 174-181.

Verdonschot, P.F.M., H. Wang, A. Pinder, and R. Nijboer (eds). 2006. Aquatic Oligochaete Biology IX. Selected papers from the 9th Symposium on Aquatic Oligochaeta, 6-10 October 2003, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Developments in Hydrobiology 186. Published by Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. ix + 222 pp. ISBN 1-4020-4781-9.

Wetzel, M.J. 1992. Aquatic Annelida of Illinois: Introduction and checklist of species. Trans. Illinois St. Acad. Sci. 85(1 and 2): 87-101.

Wetzel, M.J. 2006. In memoriam: Professor Walter James Harman, PhD (1938-2002). Hydrobiologia 564: 1-4. [also, same citation, pages, as Verdonschot et al. 2006. cited above].

Wetzel, M.J., S.V. Fend, K.A. Coates, R.D. Kathman, and S.R. Gelder. 2010. Taxonomy, systematics, and ecology of aquatic Oligochaeta and Branchiobdellidae (Annelida, Clitellata) of North America. A workbook. 1 November. vi + 280 pp. + 4 color plates.

Zaborski, E.R., and L.A.S. Gittenger. 2001. Amynthas hupeiensis (Michaelsen, 1895) (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) in Illinois, USA, with observations on worm circling. Megadrilogica 8(4): 13-16.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On 25 March 2010, the services of ClustrMaps.com were integrated to count visitors to this site and to map their geographic locations. Click on the map to expand it, and to see the number of visitors from each country (in the lower right corner, after expanding the map). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Suggested citation for this electronic web page: Wetzel, M. J. 2010. The Earthworms Of Illinois.
World Wide Web URL: [ http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~mjwetzel/Earthworms Of Illinois.html ]. 25 March.