Dive into the Soil
By: Susan Yu Mitcham-PAP Bio-6
Objectives - Earthworm Dissection
History of the Worm
The earthworm also known as Lumbricus terrestris spends its life digging through the soil of the earth. Its main home is your garden or any place where soil is available. The predators of the earthworm consists of birds, termites, rats, sow bugs, and snails. The earthworm's main diet is the soil and the nutrients in the soil. The earthworm loves to loosen the soil so water can move through easily. Ecological Adaptations of the earthworm include its streamlined shape body which aids the worm in moving through the soil, mucus coating that allows oxygen to pass through the skin of the earthworm while it is expose to air or under water, and lastly the muscular pharynx which helps the earthworm suck in soil to move.
From the Mouth to the Other End
The digestive system consists of the mouth, pharynx, pharyngeal muscles, crop, esophagus, gizzard, intestines, and lastly the anus. Soil enters the earthworm’s mouth then it is swallowed by the pharynx with the help of the pharyngeal muscles. Then the soil passes through the esophagus that leads the soil to the crop. The food moves into the crop where it is stored and then eventually moves into the gizzard. The gizzard uses stones that the earthworm eats to grind the food completely. The food moves into the intestines as gland cells in the intestine release fluids to aid in the digestive process. The intestinal wall contains blood vessels where the digested food is absorbed and transported to the rest of the body. AND THAT'S HOW THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS WORK TOGETHER TO GET THE SOIL FROM THE MOUTH TO THE OTHER END.
Digestive System
Functions of the Digestive System
Mouth
First part of the digestive system that takes in food
Gizzard
Grinds food
Pharynx
Pumps food and soil into the esophagus
Crop
Stores food
Intestine
Transports nutrients and soil through the digestive system
Esophagus
Tube that leads food to the crop
Anus
Waste from digestion leaves through this opening
Dissection Pictures
Label the Earthworm!
Things You Don't Know About the Earthworm
- OVER 6,000 species worldwide!
- Each worm is BOTH male and female.
- Earthworms are born from EGGS
- Length of an earthworm can be up to 10 FEET
- It is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to get rid of earthworms once they have taken over
- Earthworms breathe through their SKIN
- They can shoot lubricating fluid up to 12 INCHES
- You have learn enough information about the earthworm that you can shamelessly tell all your friends!
Taxonomy of Earthworm
KINGDOM:Animal
PHYLUM:Annelid
CLASS:Oligochaeta
ORDER:Opisthopora
FAMILY:Lumbricidae
GENUS:Lumbricus
SPECIES:Lumbricus terrestris or Lumbricus rubella
Ancestory of the Earthworm
News on the Earthworm
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Work Cited
"Phylogeny and Adaptive Radiation." Biocyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.
"SUNY-ESF / Earthworms." YouTube. YouTube, 07 May 2009. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.
"Earthworm." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 04 Aug. 2014. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.
"News." Www.theweathernetwork.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.
"WormWatch: Ecology." WormWatch: Ecology. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.
"Earthworm Anatomy." YouTube. YouTube, 03 Feb. 2012. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.
" Science With Me Learn about Earthworms Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.
"10 Interesting Facts About Earthworms." EcoWatch. N.p., 08 Mar. 2014. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.