Glossoscolecidae is a large family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 of earthworms which has native representatives in South

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

 and Central America

Central America

Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...

. The species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 Pontoscolex corethrurus has a circumtropical

Tropics

The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately  N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at  S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...

 distribution.

They are found mostly in forest but there is one species that lives primary in costal beach sand. The earthworms in this family can reach up to 2 meters in length. They are apparently eaten by some South American forest peoples.

Selected genera

• Andiodrilus
• Andiorrhinus
• Andioscolex
• Diachaeta
• Diaguita
  Diaguita
  The Diaguita, also called Diaguita-Calchaquí, are a group of South American indigenous peoples. The Diaguita culture developed between the 8th and 16th centuries in what are now the provinces of Salta, Catamarca, La Rioja and Tucumán in northwestern Argentina, and in the Atacama and Coquimbo...
  
  
• Enantiodrilus
• Estherella
• Glossodrilus
• Glossoscolex
• Holoscolex
• Martiodrilus
• Onychochaeta
• Pinaemdrilus
• Pontoscolex
• Rhinodrilus
  Rhinodrilus
  Rhinodrilus is a genus of large South American earthworms. It belongs to the family Glossoscolecidae.This genus consists of the following species* Rhinodrilus alatus* Rhinodrilus annulatus* Rhinodrilus appuni...
  
  
• Thamnodrilus