An earthworm is a tube-shaped,segmented worm found in the phylum Annelida. We can find earthworm living in the soil,they feed on live and dead organic matter. Earthworm scientific name is called Lumbricina and its digestive system runs through the length of its body. Its respiratory system is conducted through its skin,it has a double transport system that is composed of coelomic fluid that moves within the fluid-filled coelom and a simple closed blood circulatory system. Earthworm emerge small but fully formed,only lack their sex structure which develop in about 60 to 90 days. It takes about a year before they reach full size. According to the scientists, earthworm's average lifespan is four to eight years. Their mating periods is usually at night,they are hermaphrodites (they have both male and female sexual organs).
Things to know about earthworm
Earthworm are in a seemly varieties around 6000 species worldwide
Out of 180 earthworm species that is found in U.S and Canada, 60 are offensive species bought over from the old world.
Earthworms breathe through the skin because they lack lungs or other specialized respiratory organs
Both the male and female earthworm produces eggs and sperms
Their mating is on the surface of the earth,by pressing their bodies together and transferring sperm to each other before separating.
The baby earthworm comes from the egg and looks tiny but fully formed.
The egg of earthworm look like tiny lemon
Earthworm bodies are made up of ringlike called annuli. They are covered in setae or small bristles which the earthworm uses to move.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EARTHWORM
Earthworm have no eyes or discerning facial features
They have long segmented bodies covered in microscopic setae
They have no lungs and they collect oxygen directly through the skin
They have no skeleton, therefore they are invertebrates
They sometimes have belts or saddles around their bodies
Earthworm lives in damp (a loose soil) and when it rained,they are found on the surface of the earth. Earthworm's foods are decaying matter,leaf litter,microbial fungi and other microscopic organisms. They are so important to the environment by breaking down organic matter and passing it through their gut as newly enriched soil. Its functions is to aerate the soil and also add nutrients from deeper soil layers to upper layers by making it easier for new plant growth. That is why farmers and gardeners values earthworm so much.
Some earthworm can live up to 5-10 years,this is because they can't be harmed and eaten by birds since they are so deep below the surface.
TYPES OF EARTHWORM
Red earthworm- This type is the one you will see in the garden and lives near the surface
Night crawler- This type is found much deeper down in the soil.
We have 2700 species of earthworms in total
Earthworm is in two segments. The first is its mouth while the second is its anus. Earthworm have five hearts that pumps blood throughout its body to all its different parts
An earthworm's waste helps to fertilize the soil. Its waste is gotten rid of through tubes called nephridin. Its skin is always moist. When earthworm spends most of their time digging around in dirt,they accomplish something's
Their eating actions serve to turn the soil
Worm castings provide recycled nutrients to nourish the soil.
If a worm is cut into two parts,the part with the head segment will live on and grow a new tail later on.