Earthworm

Overview

The Earthworm is the common name for invertebrates in the family Lumbricina, which includes about 33 different species. They show the basic tube within a tube body type, with segmentation all along their body, each segment called an annuli. Each external segment has corresponding internal segmentation and setae/bristles to help with movement. They move by contracting and extending circumferential and longitudinal muscles that are in each segment, as well as using the setae on every segment to get a grip. Earthworms breath through their skin, and their whole body is covered with a mucous layer that protects from desiccation (i.e. drying out). They have no eyes, and instead using cells on the ouside of their body that are light sensitive. They are hermaphrodites, each earthworm exibiting both male and female sexual organs. Earthworms live in temperate and tropical soils all over the world, anywhere there is apppropriate water content and temperature.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom - Animalia

Phylum - Annelida

Class - Clitellata

Order - Opisthopora

Suborder - Lumbricina

References

[1] "Earthworm" Wikipedia, Retrieved April 27, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthworm

[2] "Earthworm" National Geographic, Retrieved April 27, 2021, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/common-earthworm

[3] Edwards, Clive A. "Earthworms" Natural Resources Conservation Service Soils, USDA, Retrieved April 27, 2021, from https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/soils/health/biology/?cid=nrcs142p2_053863

[4] "Earthworm Biology – The Science of the Natural Decomposers" BiologyWise, Retrieved April 27, 2021, from https://biologywise.com/earthworm-biology

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