Mesenchytraeus harrimani

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mesenchytraeus harrimani
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Clitellata
Subclass: Oligochaeta
Order: Haplotaxida
Family: Enchytraeidae
Genus: Mesenchytraeus
Species: M. harrimani
Binomial name
Mesenchytraeus harrimani
(Eisen, 1904)

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 grow to almost 60 mm in length and 2.5 mm thick. Like other ice worms, it subsists on algae and pollen.