This page provides an up to the minute summary of data currently available in the database. Parameters reported include minimum and maximum reported genomes sizes (in picograms), mean genomes sizes with standard error (SE), total number of species assayed, and the methods, cell types, and standards used for all available records. Note that the statistics reported here are based on all records in the database -- for maximum reliability, you are encouraged to evaluate the data for your particular group of interest directly. Note also that these C-value summaries do not currently account for instances of polyploidy (though this will be updated in the future).
Because these statistics refer to the database as a whole, they must be cited as follows if used in a publication:
- Gregory, T.R. (2005). Animal Genome Size Database. http://www.genomesize.com.
Please select your group of interest from the list:
- Entire Database (i.e., all animals)
- All Chordates | Amphibians | Birds | Fishes | Mammals | Reptiles
- All Invertebrates | Annelids | Arachnids | Crustaceans | Echinoderms | Flatworms | Insects | Molluscs | Nematodes
- Methods, Cell Types, and Standard Species
(Other invertebrate groups are insufficiently represented for summary stats)
Annelids
| Number of annelids: | 136 |
| Smallest annelid genome size: | 0.06pg, Dinophilus gyrociliatus, Polychaete |
| Largest annelid genome size: | 7.64pg, Spirosperma ferox, Tubificid worm |
Oligochaetes
| Number of oligochaetes: | 28 |
| Smallest oligochaete genome size: | 0.43pg, Lumbricus castaneus, Chestnut earthworm |
| Largest oligochaete genome size: | 7.64pg, Spirosperma ferox, Tubificid worm |
| Mean for oligochaetes: | 1.53pg ± 0.29 |
Polychaetes
| Number of polychaetes: | 97 |
| Smallest polychaete genome size: | 0.06pg, Dinophilus gyrociliatus, Polychaete |
| Largest polychaete genome size: | 7.20pg, Nephtys incisa, Polychaete |
| Mean for polychaetes: | 1.37pg ± 0.13 |
Comments:
- Positive correlation with body size in polychaetes (e.g., Soldi et al. 1994).
- Association with habitat in polychaetes (Soldi et al. 1994).
- Possible association with reproductive lifestyle in earthworms (Gregory and Hebert 2002).
- Polyploidy is common in some annelids (Gregory and Mable 2005).
- Click here for the annelid data page.
Summary of Methods, Cell Types, and Standard Species for Annelids
Methods (code)
| Feulgen Densitometry (FD) | 94 | 67.14% |
| Feulgen Image Analysis Densitometry (FIA) | 31 | 22.14% |
| Flow Cytometry (FCM) | 14 | 10.00% |
| Static Cell Fluorometry (SCF) | 1 | 0.71% |
Cell Types (code)
| Blood cells (BL) | 7 | 4.83% |
| Coelomocytes (C) | 18 | 12.41% |
| Embyro (EM) | 1 | 0.69% |
| Haemocytes (HE) | 1 | 0.69% |
| Muscle cells (MC) | 10 | 6.90% |
| Not specified (NS) | 4 | 2.76% |
| Sperm (S) | 10 | 6.90% |
| Testes (TS) | 3 | 2.07% |
| Whole body (WB) | 91 | 62.76% |
Standard Species (code, C-value)
| Artemisia arborescens (plant standard - not recommended) (AAR, 5.72pg) | 5 | 3.65% |
| Eisenia fetida (EF, 0.70pg) | 14 | 10.22% |
| Gallus domesticus (GD, 1.25pg) | 20 | 14.60% |
| Mus musculus (MM, 3.30pg) | 43 | 31.39% |
| Mytilus galloprovincialis (MGP, 1.92pg) | 1 | 0.73% |
| Not specified | 3 | 2.19% |
| Petunia hybrida (plant standard - not recommended) (PH, 1.43pg) | 1 | 0.73% |
| Pisum sativum (plant standard - not recommended) (PSV, 4.19pg) | 2 | 1.46% |
| Various | 48 | 35.04% |