Enigmatic Earthworms...
Audie Choi Earthworm Dissection Mitcham PAP Bio 6th Period
Lumbricina
The earthworm, a hermaphrodite, is characterized by its segmented body and fluid-filled coelom. Though it lacks a skeleton, the coelom chambers maintain its structure.
The earthworm is a decomposer and thus feeds on organic matter that's found in the soil. The earthworm also eats protozoans, bacteria, and fungi. Many organisms (birds, beetles, snakes, toads, moles, and centipedes) feed on the earthworm.
Ends of the Earthworm Dissection...
Earthworm Elements!
- There are about 2,700 different kinds of worms.
- They can replace their lost segments.
- Earthworms can eat their own weight in a day.
- If an earthworm's skin dries out, it will die.
- There can be up to a million earthworms in one acre of land.
Internal features of the split earthworm.
A labeled cutaway of the earthworm.
Labeled external features of the earthworm.
The Earthworm's Digestive System
The mouth- the opening of the earthworm that takes in food
The pharynx- an organ that lubricates food
The esophagus- a tube-like structure that takes food to the crop
The crop- a place for food to be stored before it's passed down to the gizzard for digestion
The gizzard- the organ that tears the food and proceeds to chemically break down the food ingested
The intestine- the organ that transports the nutrients through the entire system. this organ contains bacteria that helps break down food and release essential proteins and minerals
The anus- the opening at the end of the earthworm that expels wastes
Earthworms in Earth
Cited Sources
- "Excretion and Osmoregulation in Earthworm." Tutorvista.com. 08 Apr. 2014 <http://www.tutorvista.com/content/biology/biology-ii/excretion-and-osmoregulation/excretion-and-osmoregulation-earthworm.php>.
- "Worm Facts." Worm Facts. 09 Apr. 2014 <http://urbanext.illinois.edu/worms/facts/>.
- "Earthworm." Wikipedia. 04 Aug. 2014. Wikimedia Foundation. 09 Apr. 2014 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthworm>.
- "Earthworm Anatomy." YouTube. 03 Feb. 2012. YouTube. 09 Apr. 2014 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9HHS1uPFSo>.
- "Earthworm Anatomy." Earthworm Anatomy. 09 Apr. 2014 <http://crescentok.com/staff/jaskew/isr/biology/biolab31b.htm>.