Arenicola

Arenicola
Lugworm, Arenicola marina
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Clade: Pleistoannelida
Clade: Sedentaria
Clade: Maldanomorpha
Family: Arenicolidae
Genus: Arenicola
Synonyms
  • Chorizobranchus Quatrefages, 1866
  • Clymenides Claparède, 1863

Arenicola, also known as sandworms, is a genus of capitellid annelid worms comprising the lugworms and black lugs.

A.cristata is the dominant warm-water lugworm on the shores of North America and Humboldt Bay, California. A. caroledna dominates in China and Japan while Arenicola marina is mostly found in Europe, up to Norway. Arenicola loveni is restricted to Southern Africa.