Argilophilus
Encyclopedia
Argilophilus is a genus
of western North America
n earthworm
s of the family Megascolecidae
that are characteristically found under native vegetation. The genus also occurs in subcontinental India
, however, the single Australia
n report of the type species, Argilophilus marmoratus, is erroneous.
One enigmatic species, Argilophilus hyalinus Eisen, 1900, is reported from Guatemala - known only from the description of a single, macerated specimen.
Argilophilus and several other native genera form a close-knit group with nearest relatives apparently in Australia
and Southeast Asia
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of western North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n earthworm
Earthworm
Earthworm is the common name for the largest members of Oligochaeta in the phylum Annelida. In classical systems they were placed in the order Opisthopora, on the basis of the male pores opening posterior to the female pores, even though the internal male segments are anterior to the female...
s of the family Megascolecidae
Megascolecidae
Megascolecidae is a large family of earthworms which has native representatives in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast and East Asia, and North America. The most ancient lineages of the family show a Gondwanan distribution and have been used as evidence of continental drift. Members of the Pheretima...
that are characteristically found under native vegetation. The genus also occurs in subcontinental India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, however, the single Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n report of the type species, Argilophilus marmoratus, is erroneous.
One enigmatic species, Argilophilus hyalinus Eisen, 1900, is reported from Guatemala - known only from the description of a single, macerated specimen.
Argilophilus and several other native genera form a close-knit group with nearest relatives apparently in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
.