AbstractFor 113 species of Oligochaeta living in Europaean freshwaters data on the saprobic valence, the indicative weight of species and the individual saprobic index were given. The big majority of Oligochaeta is hardly determinable and needs special morphological and anatomical studies. The few easily recognizable species were figured. Oligochaeta show a relatively wide ecological valence so that their application for determining the degree of saprobity should be coupled with the specific determination of the other members of the benthic community.