Which family classification identifies the true earthworms, distinct from leeches (Hirudinea)?
Answer
Lumbricidae
The classification hierarchy narrows down specific groupings within Annelida. While Annelida is the Phylum and Oligochaeta is the Class (terrestrial, few bristles), the family level provides a finer distinction for the most common types of earthworms. The family Lumbricidae specifically encompasses these true earthworms, setting them apart from other groups within the same phylum, such as leeches, which belong to the class Hirudinea, or marine bristle worms, which belong to Polychaeta. Understanding this placement confirms that an organism categorized as Lumbricidae shares a much closer evolutionary relationship with other earthworms than with taxonomically distant annelids.
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