Oligochaeta

Freshwater aquatic worms are segmented worms ranging in size from a few millimeters to fifteen centimeters and are found in shallow sediment layers where they live off of organic material, algae and bacteria. They have two rows of bristles on their belly and two rows on their back, which they use to move around. The worms breathe primarily through their skin. For example, tubifex usually stick their head in the sediment for food while the rest of its body squiggles around to breathe.

Oligochaeta is a genus of Asian plants in the tribe Cardueae within the family Asteraceae.

Oligochaeta is native to central, southern, and southwestern Asia. They are annual plants that grow in mountain and steppe habitat.

It is part of the "Rhaponticum group" in the tribe Cardueae, along with the genera Callicephalus, Leuzea (including Acroptilon and Rhaponticum), Myopordon, and Ochrocephala. It can be distinguished from other genera by its pollen.

Species Oligochaeta divaricata - Caucasus, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey Oligochaeta minima - Xinjiang, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Afghanistan Oligochaeta ramosa - Indian Subcontinent Oligochaeta tomentosa - Caucasus, Iran formerly included

Oligochaeta leucosmerinx Rech.f. & Köie- Schischkinia albispina (Bunge) Iljin